Ovenstones have announced the acquisition of the MV Geo-Searcher, and the withdrawal from service of MV Baltic Trader.

New fishing vessel MV Geo Searcher acquired by Ovenstone

Due to enter service in March 2017

Report and photo from Dorrien Venn

Ovenstones have announced the acquisition of the MV Geo-Searcher, and the withdrawal from service of MV Baltic Trader.

MV Geo-Searcher was built in 1982 and refurbished in 2005 & 2014. It is 1863 gross tonnes, 69m in length and has served as a scientific research vessel. The vessel is being converted to a factory freezer vessel with cargo and passenger capacity and will replace MV Edinburgh as the island’s main fishing vessel. MV Edinburgh will be retained by the company, to be used on dedicated cargo trips and for limited fishing.

The MV Geo Searcher is in the final stages of refit in a yard in Poland. Her estimated time of arrival in Cape Town is now likely to be mid December. Installation of the lobster tank facility will be carried out in Cape Town, which means the Edinburgh will be deployed for the scheduled fishing trip in January 2017, with expected timing of the Geo Searchers inaugural  voyage being 18 March 2017 - in place of the Edinburgh.