ARGOS VIGO and Reefer Vessel.

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

ARGOS VIGO and Reefer Vessel.

Post by aukepalmhof » Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:47 pm

In 1987 a Fisheries Conservation Zone was introduced around the Falkland Islands in response to concerns about uncontrolled fishing in the south Atlantic. The introduction of this managed fishery enabled fishing licence fees to be levied and these fees have transformed the economic fortunes of the Falkland Islands.
Before the Conservation Zone was introduced the annual revenue collected by the Government was around £5 million. By 1989 this had risen considerably to £29 million. A total of £420 million has been raised from fishing license fees in the first 20 years.

The Falklands' fishery is modest in size in world terms. However its distinctive feature is that it is primarily based on squid which accounts for around 75% of catches. In a typical year approximately 200,000 tonnes of squid are supplied to world markets making the Falklands a significant player in the global squid trade.

There are two species of squid in the fishery: Illex argentinus which is the biggest in terms of volume, value and also size of the squid. Typical annual catches are around 150,000 tonnes with much of the catch destined for the Far East although significant amounts also go to Europe; Loligo gahi are caught by large stern trawlers almost all of which are registered in the Falklands. These Squid are frozen on board and produce a delicious product. In addition the Falkland Islands waters are also an important producer of various finned fish species including blue whiting, hoki and hake.

To celebrate the success of the Falklands Fisheries the Post Office has released this special commemorative stamp issue. The lower 3 values (3p, 11p and 25p) provide us with a glimpse of life aboard a busy fishing vessel in favourable conditions. Of course the South Atlantic Ocean is renowned for its severe weather and the tranquil scenes shown on these stamps can quite radically transform into quite extreme conditions within a matter of hours. Many of the Fishing ships operate 24 hours a day, with the Fishermen working in shifts. With the extreme weather conditions and vicious waves, working on deck is an intimidating and hazardous occupation which is undertaken with a great deal of precision and skill.

£1.05 The smaller vessel in the foreground is a Loligo trawler trans-shipping its processed and boxed catch to the larger reefer, a freezer container ship. A reefer collects the catches from entire fleets allowing the fishing vessels to continue to fish rather than having to return to their home ports around the world.

Downloaded from the South George & South Sandwich Islands web-site.

Thanks to the designer of the stamp Michael Hattersley after Mr. Peter Crichton contacted him the fishing trawler is given by him as the ARGOS VIGO, the reefer vessel loading from this trawler, he was unable to identify.

By searching around on the net I think I found some more info on the reefer depict.

The reefer depict on the stamp of £1.05 carried the funnel logo and colors of the Alpha Reefer Poole from Germany and did belong most probably to the Laskaridas Group from Greece.
11 Reefers of this type of 269,090 cubic feet, have been built on the Russian yard Kommunars Shipyard, Nikolayev most for Laskaridas account, but also for account of a Ukraine shipping company.
Three of these vessels of the Alpha reefers are fitted out with heavy roller mooring systems, used for transshipment on the high seas and anchorages in bays and roads near ports. The ships are the FRIO ANTARCTIC, FRIO LAS PALMAS and DESIGNER KNYSH. The vessel depict on this stamp has this system, you can see this on the stamp on the bow of the ship.

The details of this class are:
Tonnage 6,964 grt, 2,804 net, 6,947 dwt, dim. 133.95 x 18.00 x 10.70m., length bpp. 122.92m.
Powered by a B&W 5,100 kW diesel engine, speed 15 knots, one propeller.
Reefer capacity 269,090 cubic feet, can also carry 41 TUE containers.
The 269,090 class reefers were completed between 1996 – 2004, and are all in service.

The ARGOS VIGO was built as a stern trawler under yard No 1502 by Hijos de J. Barreras, Vigo, Spain for Maritime del Berbes S.A., Vigo.
Launched as the TELLEIRO.
Tonnage 2,074 grt, 672 net, 2.089 dwt., dim. 77.53 x 13.01 x 8.11m.
Powered by a Deutz oil 4SA engine, 3.000 bhp., single shaft, speed?
July 1988 completed.

1995 Sold to J. Pereira & Sons, Vigo and renamed in PUENTE PEREIRAS TRES.
2000 Sold or transferred to Argos Ltd., Falkland Islands (a subsidiary of Armadora Pereira S.A., Vigo) renamed in ARGIS VIGO.

2017 In use as a fishing vessel under the same name and owner. IMO No. 8604694.

Falkland Islands 2007 £1.05 sg?, scott? and 2017 £1.01 sg?, scott? (the launch is the FRANK WILD, http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 747#p18747

By this stamp is given by Falkland Post:
The fishing vessel ARGOS VIGO represents ‘Industry’ on the £1.01 stamp. She is owned and operated by Argos Group Limited and has installed a pioneering bird scaring system to its stern known as a fixed aerial array (FAA). The FAA is to discourage seabirds from seeking food during the fishing operation when they can become entangled in the nets and lines. This system is beginning to be adopted by other vessels in the fleet in preference over the ‘tori line system’ developed originally in the longline fishery. Industry and Fishery managers work together to ensure that the fishery operates to the highest environmental standards whilst protecting crew safety.

Source: Peter Crichton. Dan Rodlie. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz Alpha Reefer web-site.
Attachments
ARGOS VIGO xx.jpg
2017 argos vigo.jpg

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