Berlin Trawler’s First Winter Barents Sea Voyage: Crew, Tech, Catch

The "Berlin," a state-of-the-art fishing trawler from Cuxhaven, Germany, embarked on its inaugural winter season expedition in the Barents Sea. This modern vessel, considered one of the most advanced in Europe, carries a crew of 33 men who will spend nearly two months at sea, thousands of kilometers from home. The journey is a test of endurance for both the crew and the ship, operating as a floating fish factory in profitable yet dangerous waters.

Preparations in Tromsø

The trawler's journey began in Tromsø, northern Norway. Before setting sail, the crew meticulously loaded provisions. Deckhand Christian Meer, alongside Luciano Costa, oversaw the loading of 10 tons of food, including frozen goods, fresh produce, bread, and even pepperoni pizza, to sustain the 33-man crew for 40 days.

Pedro Costa, Luciano's brother and also a deckhand, shared insights into their family's seafaring tradition, which began with their father in Portugal. Most of the crew have long tenures with the German Fishing Union, the company owning the "Berlin." Connie Hoopner, the onboard logistics coordinator, had only a few days off before this voyage, highlighting the demanding schedule.

The ship's cook, Burgl Fuensen from Iceland, formerly a restaurant owner, is responsible for preparing three main meals and night food daily, amounting to nearly 40 meals for 33 people. He emphasizes the importance of having enough bread, potatoes, and meat, along with fresh fish caught during the trip.

Safety and Technical Checks

Before departure, the annual lifeboat inspection was conducted by Tim Harders, who flew in from Cuxhaven. He stressed the critical importance of survival suits in the near 2°C waters of Tromsø, where a person without one has only 3-4 minutes of survival time. A malfunctioning lifeboat part was replaced overnight, and Harders ensured all safety equipment was operational.

Below deck, the "Berlin" houses a cutting-edge fish processing plant. A new, simpler conveyor belt system was installed to replace the old, frequently breaking one. While everything looked good on paper, the real test would be at sea, where factors like water, ice, and ship movement could affect its performance.

Setting Sail and Scientific Observation

Captain Stfan Vidar Thoro, new to the German Fishing Union and commanding the "Berlin" for the first time, expressed the need to learn the ship's unique character despite his experience with similar equipment. His responsibilities include navigation and locating prime fishing grounds. He views fishing as a competitive game, stating, "We are all in the same team, this crew, and the others are enemies. So we want to fish more than the others."

The ship first refueled with 600,000 liters of fuel. Tim Shaw, a scientific observer from the Thünen Institute, joined the expedition. His role is to document the catch, assess fish stocks, and gather data crucial for setting future fishing quotas. He sees his work as indirectly protecting marine life from overfishing.

Following a traditional round to starboard for good luck, the "Berlin" set off on a 300-nautical-mile journey through fjords into the Barents Sea, with the pilot disembarking before open waters.

Challenges and First Catch

En route to the fishing grounds south of Bear Island, a critical guide rope connecting the nets to the ship broke. Deckhands, including Pedro, expertly spliced the steel cable, a repair that took an hour and prevented the loss of expensive fishing gear.

Upon arrival at the fishing grounds, the first mate, Valbian Valbansen, aimed for a small initial catch of 2-5 tons to test the factory operations before full-scale fishing. The crew's earnings are tied to a percentage of sales in addition to their base salary of around €1,500. Their target for this trip was cod, a currently expensive fish.

Three hours later, the first haul yielded 9 metric tons of cod from two nets, exceeding expectations. Below deck, Pedro began his shift in the factory, operating the heading machine to ensure precise cuts and minimize waste.

A subsequent issue arose when Captain Stfan noticed a reduced catch. Inspection revealed a broken upper bridle on one of the trawls, which was promptly repaired. The safety chain, designed to break if the net snags, had functioned as intended. The nets, 100 meters long and 30 meters wide, were then redeployed to a depth of 300 meters.

Successful Fishing and Onboard Life

By the fifth day, the "Berlin" had found a lucrative fishing spot north of its planned route, with no other vessels in the vicinity. Sonar readings indicated abundant cod, some up to 120 cm long.

Chief technician Herder Massen attempted to repair the ship's hot tub, a novel amenity aimed at crew relaxation and recovery. However, a more pressing issue arose in the fish processing plant: a conveyor belt malfunction. After nearly seven hours and remote assistance from a land-based technician, the problem, likely a short circuit, was resolved, preventing a costly return to port. The delay resulted in an estimated loss of up to €100,000.

The crew operates in two 8-hour shifts, working around the clock with no days off. Fish are processed immediately after being caught: decapitated, bled in ice-cold water, and then filleted. Ari Haroldson, the plant manager, oversees quality control, ensuring proper bleeding. Almost every part of the fish is utilized, from fillets to animal feed (from innards) and collagen (from skin). Luciano Costa works at the filleting station, manually removing any remaining bones. Y Anson performs the final quality control before packaging, emphasizing speed to maximize catch volume.

Cook Berglay Funen prepares diverse international meals, catering to various tastes and ensuring the crew's satisfaction. He highlights the importance of good food for morale, stating, "The food makes the crew happy."

Tim Shaw, the scientific observer, spends 12 hours daily collecting data. He extracts otoliths (ear bones) from fish to determine their age, a crucial factor in stock assessment and quota setting.

High-Tech Fishing and Stormy Seas

The "Berlin" is equipped with advanced sensors on its fishing gear to optimize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. These sensors monitor net position, door and clump behavior, and fish density. The troll clump, a heavy steel roller, reduces seabed contact. Each sensor costs as much as a small car, reflecting the ship's technological sophistication.

Luciano Costa, after his 8-hour shift, unwinds in his shared cabin, communicating with his family via satellite internet. He acknowledges the emotional toll of being away from home but values the time off between expeditions.

On day nine, Pedro, Luciano's brother, oversaw the hauling of nets. A damaged jigger (steel cable) was identified and replaced. The nets were consistently full, though they also contained red fish bycatch, which is less profitable. All caught fish must be utilized.

Connie Hoopner manages logistics in the ship's two-story, automated cargo hold, which can store 700 metric tons of fish at -20°C. After just over a week, 100 metric tons were already stored. He enjoys his job, which he's done for 25 years, noting the significantly higher pay compared to land-based work, with crew members earning €10,000-€15,000 per expedition.

Medical Emergency and Evacuation

Tim Shaw developed a severe toothache. With no doctor on board, Captain Stfan, trained in basic medical care, examined him. Suspecting an infection, Stfan advised Tim to see a dentist ashore, as a prolonged infection could lead to serious complications.

However, a severe storm with gale-force 10 winds and waves up to 8 meters high made immediate evacuation impossible. The crew continued fishing despite the rough conditions, a testament to the "Berlin's" modern capabilities. Pedro, overseeing deck operations, emphasized the dangers of fishing in such weather.

The storm subsided the next morning, and another trawler from the same company, the "Santa Princessa," was dispatched to pick up Tim. Donning a survival suit, Tim was transferred via lifeboat to the "Santa Princessa" in a challenging operation involving climbing a rope ladder in high seas. His expedition ended, but the "Berlin" crew continued their deep-sea fishing journey for another 30 days.