World’s Newest And Most Modern Tuna Seiner Starts Fishing ff
25 July 2006
Seychelles A recent press release from the Seychelles Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources said that the state-of-the-art Draco, which was launched in Spain, in May, arrived in Port Victoria after its maiden voyage from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
The Draco is one of the world’s biggest purse seiners and is managed by the Spanish firm Mar de Hydra Ltd.
According to the press release, the Draco, which is now on its first fishing trip out of Port Victoria, is the third new purse seiner to take licenses to fish in Seychelles waters this year.
Mar de Hydra’s chief executive officer, Aniceto Ramirez Soler, met the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Ronny Jumeau, to discuss the company’s operations and plans in Seychelles.
Mr. Jumeau described the registering of the Draco under the Seychelles flag and the licensing of more European purse seiners in Port Victoria this year as “a firm vote of confidence in the country’s future as the leading fishing nation of the South-West Indian Oceanâ€.
Built in Vigo, Spain, by Construciones Navales P. Freire S.A, the Draco was launched in May and sailed directly to Seychelles, arriving in Port Victoria at the end of that month.
The 84.14-meter super seiner of 3,296 gross registered tons (GRT) and with a cruising speed of 18 knots, is of a new generation of tuna purse seiners. Its catch is stored at -18 degrees Celsius in 22 brine tanks and is frozen at a rate of up to 200 tons a day. The vessel is fitted with the latest and most modern electronics equipment and technology.
Draco has spacious accommodation consisting of individual cabins for her crew of 30.
Though she has been fitted with a helicopter-landing pad, she will not be using a helicopter for tuna spotting in the Indian Ocean.
