Zhejiang Ocean Family’s Brand New Seiners Will Fly Kiribati Flag

Chinese tuna fishing company Zhejiang Ocean Family has purchased two new seiners that will operate in the WCPO under the Kiribati flag. The company owns a cannery under a joint venture on this Pacific island nation. The vessels, ‘Kibena 6’ and ‘Kibena 7,’ were built at China-based shipyard Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and were delivered last month.

According to the WCPFC vessel registry, the seiners are 76 meter long with 1,848 G/T and 1,180 cubic meters of fish hold capacity. It accommodates 38 crew members. They are operated by the Kiribati Tuna Fishing Company Limited and registered to Betio Port. The seiners would supply tuna to the frozen fish producing Kiribati Fish Limited Company which is a joint venture of Zhejiang Ocean Family, the Government of Kiribati, and Golden Ocean (Fiji).