Aurora Fisheries will begin operation of its new Trawler F.V Takapo in late 2025.
Tersan Shipyard has been awarded the contract to construct a groundbreaking vessel for Aurora Fisheries, a part of the Solander Group, to operate in New Zealand waters. The vessel, designed by Norway’s Skipsteknisk and constructed by Tersan in Türkiye, symbolises a new era for Solander, introducing cutting-edge advancements in energy efficiency and regeneration to New Zealand’s deep-sea fishing industry.
VESSEL TYPE: Factory Freezer Trawler
LENGTH OVERALL (M): 80.0
BREADT (M): 15.40
CLASS: DNV+1A1, E0, TMON, Clean, “Sterntrawler”, Ice 1B
FLAG: New Zealand
F.V Takapo Official Launch – 14 March 2025
Tersan Launching Ceremony Video
Conceptual Interior Visuals
Mehmet Gazioğlu, Managing Director of Tersan Shipyard, expressed pride in being the builder of this state-of-the-art vessel for Aurora Fisheries, emphasising its significance as the first Tersan-delivered vessel to New Zealand. The collaboration between Tersan Shipyard and Skipsteknisk, with their extensive experience in trawlers, instils confidence in Aurora Fisheries regarding this ambitious venture.
The vessel, adopting the ST-116XL design and measuring 80 metres in length and 15.4 metres in width, is tailored for single pelagic and demersal trawl operations targeting species such as Southern Blue Whiting, Jack Mackerel, Ling, Squid, and Hake in New Zealand waters. Boasting a freezer hold cargo capacity of 2135 m³ for graded products on pallets, it is equipped for efficient and sustainable fishing practices.
Aurora Fisheries’ CEO, Paul Hufflett, highlighted the company’s confidence in this significant step forward, underlining the experience and reputation of Tersan Shipyard and Skipsteknisk in constructing deep-sea fishing vessels. Scheduled for delivery in late 2025, it aims to replace the existing vessel, which, though having served the company well, was not originally designed for New Zealand waters.
The F.V Takapo will feature a state-of-the-art bridge and fish factory, ensuring maximum energy efficiency. With accommodation for up to 50 people, including spacious living areas and social amenities, the vessel emphasises both operational excellence and crew comfort.
Skipsteknisk’s history in designing vessels for New Zealand includes notable projects such as the fisheries research vessel “Tangaroa,” the factory trawler “Rehua,” and the ongoing construction of the research vessel “Kaharoa II.”
The collaboration between Tersan Shipyard, Skipsteknisk, and Aurora Fisheries marks a significant milestone in the evolution of deep-sea fishing technology, with F.V Takapo poised to lead the industry in the New Zealand region.
For more information:
www.skipsteknisk.no/news
tersanshipyard.com/en/news
