The Tuna Vessel “Mar de Sergio”, a Veteran of Albacora

The veteran tuna vessel “Mar de Sergio” (IMO 8212075), owned by the Albacora company, is part of the history of the Spanish deep-sea fishing fleet and the naval registry of Vigo. After a technical stop at the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, it continued its journey towards Dakar (Senegal) this noon, ahead of a new campaign in the WCPFC convention area.

In service since 1984, it is a notable vessel in its category, with a gross tonnage of 2,767 tons and a deadweight of 2,181 tons, featuring a hull length of 84.29 m – 72 m between perpendiculars – a beam of 15.65 m, a depth of 9.91 m, and a draft of 6.95 m. A 5,703 horsepower engine allows it to maintain a speed of 14.5 knots.

At 38 years of maritime life, the vessel has been modernized several times, equipped with a bulbous bow, and ranks among the most important in its specialty within the Spanish fishing fleet. The typical crew consists of 31 people.

Albacora captures and markets the main species of tuna (YFT, BET, and SKJ) with a fleet of around thirty vessels operating worldwide. It is present in the fishing grounds of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and prides itself on inheriting the principles of traditional fishermen from the city of Bermeo. Pioneers in foreign fishing, the company is “fully committed to the sustainable management of global tuna populations.”

Its history includes the rescue in June 2015 of eight fishermen who were adrift in the waters of Sao Tomé and Príncipe, after being lost for fifteen days and when they were already presumed missing by the authorities of that country. Initially, they thought they were pirates and took the necessary precautions, although it was later confirmed that they were the missing group.

Photo: Nicolás Arocha for puentedemando.com