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2007 Archive
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Written by B. Tyril
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Monday, 21 May 2007 |
Launching a behemoth Red Lion midwater trawl in a new bid to attract the redfish segment, the Faroes’ fast growing fishing gear manufacturer Vónin snatches a 22-percent share of world leader Hampiðjan.
After receiving a cold splash of reality a decade ago in a failed attempt at the redfish trawl market, gear maker Vónin not long ago resumed redfish gear development work with a fresh plan that appears to be proving perfect: take the Blue Whiting model and modify it much more dramatically than earlier — make sure the material is ultra lightweight, the meshes in the front section super large, and the whole structure extremely smooth to generate minimal water resistance yet sink quickly and easily.
Judging from recent reports, the Red Lion is not just working: it’s a killer trawl worthy of its name and that of its developer.
For Vónin, the story doubtlessly has more than symbolic value. With the Red Lion, the company is seen as seeking to enter Hampiðjan’s North Atlantic heartland; in a separate development, Vónin made a swift draw toward taming its competition, purchasing a 22-percent share of Iceland’s rival. Known as the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial fishing gear, Hampiðjan has long had a powerful position in the redfish trawl sector.
“Let’s be honest, we were lagging behind in this area,” said Vónin sales and marketing manager Eystein Elttör. “But not anymore; with the Red Lion we’ve made a giant leap, and we’re going to get this product right this time.”
“What we’ve got at this point is a promising prototype,” said Red Lion sales representative Rógvi Joensen, who helped develop the new model. “Pelagic vessels usually don’t hunt redfish but we’ve had the Red Lion tested for two special trips on the Fagraberg with good results. Now freezer trawlers will be testing the trawl and we’re going to follow up very closely on any need for adjustments.”
Mr Joensen added: “Feedback from the fishermen who use the gear is our most important source of information and this is particularly true in the early stages of a new model. In fact, we designed Red Lion by going on a fishing trip with a trawler to identify and see for ourselves why and how the old version didn’t work. Buy working closely with skippers and their crew we find out what really happens on the fishing grounds and we use that knowledge to design and develop our trawls.”
While the Red Lion is based on Vónin’s successful Blue Whiting model, there are some major differences between the two models.
“Although a midwater trawl is used both for blue whiting and for redfish, the difference is huge… With a redfish trawl you need maximum speed and lightness and minimum water resistance to make sure the fish won’t escape through the wide meshes in the front section of the net. With blue whiting and similar pelagic species, the principle is roughly the opposite.”
But a piece of commercial fishing gear is not a standard product, according to Mr Joensen.
“You may define a certain type and even a certain model of trawl but still, there is always a lot of variables involved because you’re dealing with a whole system of nettings and ropes and everything else that goes with a trawl. More often than not it’s a highly tailored solution for a certain fishing vessel and its particular needs and preferences. “The skipper usually knows exactly what he wants and why and he’ll decide a lot of things related to sizes, dimensions, extras and various specifications.”
With 2006 sales amounting to a record 130 million dkk (17.5m eur / 12m gbp), Vónin’s tour de force looks set to continue. In the last couple of years, a number of acquisitions have dramatically consolidated Vónin’s market position in Faroe and, perhaps even more, in Greenland as well as elsewhere.
Since the company in late 2006 took over more than one-fifth of the shares of Hampiðjan, the Icelandic market suddenly appeared closer to home — not least if aided by constructive cooperation.
Vónin’s chief executive, Hjalmar Petersen commented: “I’d say our relationship is one of mutual respect and I’m convinced that both companies see great perspectives in the context of meaningful cooperation,” he said.
Perhaps he’s right in that this deal shouldn’t come as a surprise; after all, Iceland and Faroe are becoming increasingly integrated culturally, commercially and financially.
Link to pdf presentation...
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