2022 was a good year for fishing in Iceland. According to data compiled by Fisheries Management, Icelandic vessels caught 1,418,000 tonnes in 2022, an increase of 22 % over 2021. The pelagic catch was 956,000 T, a 46 % increase over 2021, however the demersal catch fell 8 %, from 472,000 T in 2021 to 434,000 T in 2022.

 

Iceland has been a key market for Ibercisa Deck Machinery for more than 40 years, during which shipowners have trusted in the reliability, durability and responsiveness of the Ibercisa team. Recently Ibercisa Deck Machinery has reinforced its position in this strategic geographical location with Maras as their service partner in Iceland.
 

The most recent delivery in the Icelandic market was signed with Rammi, based in Fjallabyggd and Thorlakshofn, who chose Ibercisa to supply the integral fishing winches and controls for their new fresher trawler. The boat, 47 m long, will be prepared for triple trawl, to a Nautic design.
 

Under construction at Armón Shipyards for Thorfish, to a Skipasýn design, is a new 58 x 13,60 metre fresher Trawler, slated for delivery in early 2024. This vessel will incorporate Siemens and Ibercisa’s ‘ULISES’ system, that brings together the latest technologies in efficiency and energy management for trawlers, already installed and fishing on the cutting-edge factory trawler, Baldvin Njálsson GK-400, – 66,30 x 16 metres–, also designed by Skipasýn and built at Armón Vigo for the Icelandic company Nesfiskur.
 

The ULISES system has been developed in line with the digital twin concept, with “Hardware in the Loop” by Ibercisa and Siemens, and it combines innovation, integration, Industry 4.0, energy saving and cyber security; 5 key aspects for the industry, today and in the future.
 

Ibercisa is also working on the update of the electric equipment and controls of two Skinney Thinganes vessels that, at the time, were supplied by another company.
 

Other references of Icelandic fishing vessels with Ibercisa fishing equipment are the trawlers Faxi, owned by Faxamjöi HF; Julius Geirmundsson of Gunnvor HF; Skinney of Skinney; Ontika of Rodfrydstihusid Nordurtang; as well as important shipowners such as Vinnslustodin, Hradfrystihusid Gunnvor and HB Grandi, historic clients of Ibercisa, who have operated in the market since their beginning nearly 54 years ago.
 

Fishing is not the only sector that Ibercisa operates in for Iceland. Another contract to highlight is for the Icelandic company Isfell that chose Ibercisa to develop a new cable spooling winch, designed to be transported in a 20’ container and fully autonomous.
 

Isfell’s idea is to provide the cable, spooling it in the best conditions to ensure that it is ready from the first day of operation. With the new Ibercisa spooler-tensioner, Isfell is capable of attaching the cable to the winch with the correct tension and at an adequate speed. The machine can work with the common sizes of cable bobbins available on the market, with kits included on its own capstan.
 

The winch, with 44.82 kW installed, has been developed for mobility. Isfell chose diesel drive, perfect for this kind of winch designed for its use in ports or further afield, out of reach of a stable electric supply.