4 Naust Marine, Nautic and Frost The key to success is predictability and stability
10 Vísir No slack given on safety matters
16 Icelandair Cargo
A good way to prevent food waste
20 Seafoodture
Exploring the Future of Food: Seaweed as a Sustainable Protein Source
22 Markus Lifenet
When Every Second Counts
Because of the Gulf-stream surrounding the country we have rich fishing grounds, containing various species of fish. Undisturbed nature is the most valuable resource of the Icelandic nation. In the past people didn't much like the Gulf-stream but today it has become clear how valuable it is to us, because this country would be uninhabitable if it weren't there. Not only have seafood-products kept us alive in previous centuries, but Icelanders started selling seafood-products early in their history, first fish oil and then stockfish.
Times have changed a lot from the 14th century when a turnaround occurred and seafood became Icelanders' main export in place of woolen cloth.
The fishing industry constantly relies on research and product development but experience has shown that increased creation of capital goods is based on ingenuity, of which we can be proud. All this is based on the foundations that we know so well. That knowledge is our resource and provides insight into further innovations in the future; factors such as the knowledge, competence, education and culture of those who inhabit the country.
The importance of gaining knowledge in the fishing industry is fundamental to being able to take advantage of the learning and skill that we possess. Imparting both knowledge and that which we know about research and education. That way we have a better chance of development in the fishing industry and deal with challenges in an ever changing competitive environment. By sharing our knowledge connections are made, which can be invaluable to companies.
Publisher: Timaritid Sjavarafl ehf.
Phones: +354 6622 600
Editor and guarantor: Elin Bragadottir
Website: www.sjavarafl.is
E-mail: elin@sjavarafl.is
Graphic design: Prentmet Oddi
Front Cover: Kristján Birkisson
Printing: Prentmet Oddi
Therefore it may be said that knowledge is necessary in the fishing industry. Educational experts know how to evaluate catch quantities which have, as a whole, stopped increasing, while the value increase has continued. Many growth companies have played their part in increasing the fish industry's yield. Everything is utilized these days, be it fish skin or bones. Respect for the limited natural resources which we possess has increased greatly. The fishing industry has gone through many changes in the last few years and progress in the technology and its use for the benefit of the industry is significant.
A clean ocean, quality and freshness are among other things quantifiable resources which have created wealth for us and further encourage us to continue innovating and marketing our unique products.
Fresh deliveries
We deliver your products safely to consumers all over the world, with the use of our extensive route map, professionalism, high-frequency flights and speed. Fresh and high quality.
The three companies, Naust Marine, Nautic, and Frost, have had a successful and reliable partnership for many years. Uncertainty in the fishing industry in Iceland, as well as in global matters, has had varying effects on the companies. Their representatives say that ingenuity and the knowledge sector in Iceland are the future.
Despite the challenging times of the past few seasons marked by the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, among other issues, there are many exciting developments in the fishing industry in Iceland. Naust Marine, Nautic, and Frost are different companies with diverse operations but they have a long history of collaboration. This allows them to utilize their strengths even better. Naust Marine is an international technology company in the fishing industry with its headquarters in Iceland. The company started its operations in 1993 and was primarily focused on the development and production of control equipment for trawl winches. Later, the company began to design and manufacture winches and other deck equipment under the Naust Marine brand. Equipment from Naust Marine is on board up to 200 vessels worldwide.
Significant changes have taken place in the operations of Naust Marine in recent years. Hrafnkell Tulinius, general manager of Naust Marine, explains that the production of trawl winches has completely stopped in Iceland because it is too costly. “We do not have a competitive position in Iceland, and many factors come into play, such as labor costs and carbon taxes on imported supplies.”
He states that it makes no sense to import products or raw materials to Iceland just to send them back. “We have operations in Vigo, Spain, where there is a lot of activity in shipbuilding, both in maintenance and new builds. That is where our production is now.”
The operations in Spain are structured differently than their competitors. “We build our operations on subcontracting. We are designers and design all winches, all electrical equipment, and other hardware for trawl winches and deck equipment, such as cranes. Then we contract very skilled electrical companies that are almost in the next house to us in Spain. There are also two or three parties that manufacture the trawl winches or the winch equipment itself. These are steel companies specializing in cutting and welding steel under our supervision and guidance. Thus, we are assembling and producing steel parts of the winch systems, equipment that is on fishing vessels, there. We then order the necessary equipment and assemble it in our workshop in Vigo. There we are essentially combining all production in the same place under the same quality requirements.”
The shipbuilding industry in Iceland is coming to an end Naust Marine's customers are both Icelandic and foreign. “They come from all over. In historical context, we have trawl winch systems on ships all over. In some cases, these are ships that were originally built in Iceland and then sold elsewhere. Ships have also been built for various purposes. We have many business dealings in the Netherlands, Belgium, Africa, the USA, Russia, and Korea. Certainly, the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on business with Russia. We just have to weather that,” says Hrafnkell.
“This directly affects families. Unfortunately, the shipbuilding industry in Iceland is coming to an end as such.”
Regarding Iceland's competitiveness, Hrafnkell states that they did not lightly make the decision to move operations to Spain. “This directly affects families. Unfortunately, the shipbuilding industry in Iceland is coming to an end as such.” He points out that this used to be handled differently in past years. One shipyard after another has closed, and now the few that remain only handle maintenance.
Hrafnkell emphasizes that the knowledge industry, on the other hand, is remarkably strong in Iceland and has taken the place of manufacturing. “I am talking about the sourcing of seafood and their processing, all handling and processing lines. There are thriving companies in that sector.”
The company Nautic specializes in ship design, mainly focusing on fishing vessels for both domestic and foreign markets. The main competitors are Norwegians and other European nations. The market is not large, especially for the North Atlantic, but these companies are usually highly specialized. Icelanders have mostly designed trawlers, particularly for frozen fish.
Kári Logason, general manager of Nautic, states that the company is working on various ideas, such as energy transitions in boats and ships. “We are examining the small systems, boats that could run entirely on green energy or methane or electric fuel or something similar. For larger ships, we are looking into utilizing methanol, but there are technical and safety requirements that we are working to implement to maintain the current fishing arrangements without making drastic changes to what we are doing.”
Kári mentions that there is great interest among those intending to build new ships in using new energy sources, as the demand is strong to try to find the most environmentally friendly solutions. “The result, however, is that there is no supply of any kind of environmentally friendly fuel available.” Therefore, the focus has shifted more toward smaller boats, trying to create systems that use both diesel and green energy – depending on the availability of energy at any given time. He criticizes the energy policy of the Icelandic government and believes that the overall picture is not being considered. For example, electric vehicles are subsidized, but nothing is done to facilitate the efforts of companies in the fishing industry, which are major oil consumers. “These are strange incentives and a weird prioritization.” He points out the significant difference in the amount of oil burned for 1 kilogram of cod 20 years ago compared to today. With new technology, much less oil is used.
In this context, Kári criticizes the government's emphasis on increasing permits for coastal fishing in Iceland. The boats used in this sector
burn significantly more oil proportionally. Thus, Icelanders are backtracking 20 years in terms of environmental issues and the quality of products. The criticism is not directed at the ideology since the purpose of coastal fishing, for example, is to bolster rural areas, but this comes at a cost, such as increased carbon footprint and poorer handling of raw materials.
“The result, however, is that there is no supply of any kind of environmentally friendly fuel available.”
Frost is a design, contracting, and service company in the refrigeration industry and has been operational since 1993. Guðmundur H. Hannesson, CEO of Frost, states that they have historically placed great emphasis on the fishing industry. “It has been the backbone of our operation, although we do, of course, service other sectors, especially in Iceland.” The company has been involved in significant development work in
collaboration with the fishing industry for just over 30 years. This does not only apply to Icelandic companies, as Frost's customers are spread around the globe; for example in the Faroe Islands, Norway, Canada, Spain, Turkey, Poland, pre-war Russia, Africa, South America, and so on. “We go where the projects are,” he says.
“That’s where our opportunities lie. Getting involved in development projects and automation – and increasing efficiency in processing to improve utilization.“
Guðmundur explains that the political landscape and uncertainty have had a tremendous impact on the industry. He states that it can be challenging to compete with foreign companies that do not face the same burdens. “It’s tough, and current examples show that the fishing industry is generating much less profit than in previous years.”
The capelin crisis has also had a much greater impact than people realize. Many support industries depend on these fisheries taking place.
The company feels the effects of this turbulence but is somewhat better prepared to face the situation since it does not only work in the fishing industry. “We have so many eggs in different baskets that when one egg drops we can succeed elsewhere. Thus, we remain afloat, and operations are steady and good. We seek projects elsewhere when fishing declines.”
On a positive note, Guðmundur states that fish farming shows great promise in Iceland, with significant investment opportunities. “It has substantial implications for Icelandic society. There are projects worth hundreds of billions being invested over a 10-year period, and there are immense opportunities there.”
Additionally, Guðmundur points out that when contractions occur, people tend to become more inventive. “That’s where our opportunities lie. Getting involved in development projects and automation – and increasing efficiency in processing to improve utilization. This is how one maintains production and good outcomes despite limited markets. The opportunities lie in increased ingenuity and automation.”
„There needs to be peace regarding the operating environment so that people can continue to run efficient businesses that contribute to society.“
Frost is involved in development and innovation projects year-round, according to Guðmundur. “There is a lot going on, and many exciting projects ahead, so we are quite pleased with ourselves. But that does not change the fact that one has concerns about the situation in the fishing industry.”
He calls for unity regarding this vital sector in Iceland and wants the discussion surrounding it to be based on accurate premises. Predictability is incredibly important. “There needs to be peace regarding the operating environment so that people can continue to run efficient businesses that contribute to society. That way everyone should be happy. The key to success is predictability and stability. This political turbulence is very costly for the nation.”
Frost's goal amidst turmoil has always been to maintain and increase their competitiveness day by day and strengthen the company in terms of both automation and ingenuity. “That is the future,” says Guðmundur.
Vísir is an established fishing company with a rich history. The company has navigated various challenging circumstances, most recently a volcanic eruption in its hometown, but it stands strong like never before.
Vísir is an Icelandic fishing company that uses long-line vessels and also operates one fresh fish trawler. The company operates a saltfish production facility and a freezing facility in Grindavík. Vísir has a broad range of seafood products, including saltfish – wet salted split fish and fillets – as well as light salted products, fresh and frozen fillets, and portions.
Pétur Hafsteinn Pálsson, the CEO of Vísir, states that the company’s uniqueness lies in its ability to produce groundfish products in a variety of formats for different markets: frozen, fresh, salted, and lightly salted. “For sixty years, we have been catching and processing fish. For the longest time, we focused entirely on saltfish, but recently we have also processed fresh and frozen products. There is so much salt in our blood that you wouldn’t believe it.”
The company was once scattered across Iceland, but it now operates solely in Grindavík. “Our staff now works in two facilities which are less
than 200 meters apart. Because everything is in the same location, we can sort and allocate fish as needed each day.”
Frozen fish sold widely
Vísir places varying emphasis on each production depending on the season. “The saltfish market is largely divided into two segments. The first segment is called PORT fish, which is mainly sold to Portugal, where they have a traditional saltfish method for drying. Then we have SPIG fish, which is primarily sold to Spain, Italy, and Greece. That is split fish,” explains Pétur.
The company also produces salted fillets that are ready for export, as well as lightly salted products, where the fish is filleted, placed in a light brine, and then frozen. “When introducing all these product categories based on the conditions at any given time, you have the flexibility to sort the fish by size, age, and fishing gear, depending on what each product and market requires.”
Vísir sells most of its saltfish to Southern Europe, Greece, and Portugal. The company primarily sells fresh fish to Europe but also to the United States. According to Pétur, the frozen fish is sold widely, both to Europe and overseas, but the largest market is in the UK and Northern Europe.
Credibility and relationships are crucial in this industry
It is good to meet customers from time to time, according to Pétur. “Credibility and relationships are the most important factors in this industry. The customer must trust that we are here to stay. Reliability is extremely important in all marketing efforts, and the customer needs to know when we will deliver the product – so it doesn't come as a surprise to them, allowing them to build their operations accordingly. We have been operating for 60 years and when we say we intend to continue, we mean it. Our customers base their investments and plans on our being here, and vice versa.”
Equally important is the assurance of the quality of the product sold and that all regulations and laws are followed.
“There are certification companies that certify almost everything for us. First of all, it is certified that we fish from sustainable stocks, and secondly, that we treat our staff and environment well. Thirdly, everything relating to hygiene and traceability is certified, and we adhere to laws in our operations. This has become a selling point as we work in a specific system that is environmentally sustainable,” says Pétur, adding that this is part of maintaining external credibility.
“For sixty years, we have been catching and processing fish. For the longest time, we focused entirely on saltfish, but recently we have also processed fresh and frozen products.”
Competing against subsidized fishing industry
Iceland built its independence and economy on traditional saltfish processing for sale in Southern Europe, explains Pétur. However, a lot has changed in recent years and decades with significant technological changes in the fishing industry. Pétur says the goal is always to achieve better utilization of raw materials and improved management and packaging. This also depends on which buyers they’re working with and what their needs are. “There are variations depending on product categories. The same principles apply across all companies, regardless of the industry.” Competitiveness is important in this context, from customers to shareholders. “You need to be firm in tradition but also seize new opportunities when they arise.”
How is the competitiveness of Icelandic fishing companies? Pétur states that Vísir consider themselves to be quite competitive. “It is a sellers' market today, and prices are relatively high,” he points out, mentioning that global issues also play a part.
“Business with Russia occurs differently now than before, and we are always competing against subsidized fishing elsewhere. There are a few factors that we have in our favor compared to many countries, but there is a strong tradition of integrating fishing and processing in Iceland. I believe it is not as robust anywhere else as it is in Iceland, and the agreements with fishermen play a significant role in that. They are major participants in maintaining the industry in Iceland to compete against subsidized processing elsewhere. This agreement between fishermen and companies that process their own catch is the foundation of why the operation is functioning as well as it is today. However,
we must contend with rising fishing fees while others receive subsidies. Therefore, there are always new challenges that we face. Overall, this has worked out well, and we have managed to withstand this competition so far.”
“Credibility and relationships are the most important factors in this industry. The customer must trust that we are here to stay.”
Operations have exceeded expectations after the volcanic eruptions
There have been significant volcanic activities in the Reykjanes Peninsula in recent years. There is no end in sight to this upheaval, but how does Vísir plan to continue operations in Grindavík, where thousands of people had to flee their homes a few years ago?
Pétur says that the company has managed to navigate this crisis well, as well as other crises like COVID-19 and the financial crash.
“The company was relocated away from the town at the end of 2023. For the next four months, from January until Easter, there was a series of eruptions, and we then moved our operations to Helguvík. There, we mainly processed PORT fish, which is a relatively simple process. After Easter last year, we got everything back up and running at 60% capacity. That exceeded expectations, and by September 1, we were back at full capacity. There have been no delays caused by the eruptions other than a total of 10 days of power outages that affected us,” says Pétur.
“You need to be firm in tradition but also seize new opportunities when they arise.”
After all this experience, people are aware of the situation and this calls for certain adjustments. Pétur says the main thing is for staff to feel good about working at Vísir in Grindavík and to feel safe.
He reports that a special company is responsible for ensuring that all safety standards are complied with in Grindavík. “That really matters. Almost everyone who works for us now lives on the other side of the peninsula, where it takes only 15 to 30 minutes to drive to work. Approximately 150 people come to Grindavík for work every day. This allows us to operate at full capacity, which is 400 to 500 tons a week, and we have been doing this almost since the beginning of September. It is a significant effort to help people adapt to this new reality, but we are of course very proud that almost all of the same people are still with us, which shows us that we have managed to navigate through these turbulent times, and people are still with us. That is what we are most proud of.”
No one can predict exactly what the future will hold concerning volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula, but as long as people feel safe, they choose to live and work in Grindavík. Therefore, Pétur says that Vísir takes safety matters very seriously, and no slack is given regarding these concerns.
“It is a significant effort to help people adapt to this new reality, but we are of course very proud that almost all of the same people are still with us, which shows us that we have managed to navigate through these turbulent times.“
In the SEAFOODTURE project, researchers are turning to the ocean’s green gold—seaweed—to unlock a sustainable, nutritious, and high-value source of protein for tomorrow’s food products. By developing protein-rich seaweed extracts, the project aims to introduce innovative ingredients into a range of food prototypes that meet modern demands for both health and sustainability.
The versatility of seaweed opens exciting possibilities across food categories. At SINTEF in Norway, the focus is on fresh, short shelf-life products such as seafood and meat alternatives. Meanwhile, Spanish project partner Porto-Muiños is working in parallel on shelf-stable applications, such as cereals and dried goods.
While the development of the seaweed extract is still underway, the SINTEF food research team is already testing the waters using dried seaweed. Their aim: to better understand the raw material—how different species behave in food systems, and how they affect characteristics like taste, smell, texture, and visual appeal
At SINTEF’s in-house kitchen lab, early experiments are shedding light on the culinary potential of seaweed. Initial trials using dried green algae (Ulva spp.) and red algae (Gracilaria spp.) in haddock fish cakes revealed a strong influence on product colour, prompting further testing with other species.
In a second round of tests, the team explored red algae Dulse (Palmaria palmata) in powdered form and Porphyra—better known globally as Nori—in flake form. Building on insights from an ongoing consumer study led by Irish partner Innovate Solutions, the researchers trialed salmon-based fish burgers and Korean-style rice balls (Jumeokbap)
The results were promising. The reddish hues of seaweed blended seamlessly into the salmon burger patties, with a pleasantly fresh aroma reminiscent of sushi. As for the rice balls, the team experimented with Nori both wrapped around and mixed into the rice. The outcome? Visually appealing, flavourful bites that the researchers believe could work perfectly as a light meal, snack, or side dish
As SEAFOODTURE moves forward, these creative trials will help shape the future use of seaweed extracts in food—whether as a main ingredient or a functional backup should extract development take longer than expected. One thing is certain: seaweed is making waves as a future-forward ingre dient, ripe with opportunity for innovation.
Visit our booth at Seafood Processing Global #3DD401
Icelandair Cargo places great emphasis on the freshness of the products transported to and from Iceland, according to Sigurgeir Már Halldórsson, director of sales and marketing at the company. Icelandair Cargo transports fish, vegetables, and consumer goods quickly and safely between Iceland and mainland Europe and the United States.
“If you have flown with Icelandair to any of our destinations, it is almost guaranteed that there has been fish on the plane during the journey.”
Sigurgeir Már Halldórsson, director of sales and marketing at Icelandair Cargo, shares in an interview with Fishing the news that this good utilization of Icelandair’s routes maintains the freshness of the products the company transports between countries.
The company has a long history. In 1937, a new airline named Flugfélag Akureyrar was founded in northern Iceland. This marked the beginning of Icelandair. Since the early days, cargo has played a significant role in its services and operations. Both predecessor companies
of Icelandair, Loftleiðir and Flugfélag Íslands, carried cargo on their commercial passenger flights; their fleet was well-suited for combined passenger and cargo transportation. After founding Icelandair in 1973, a specialized cargo department was established.
In addition to offering belly space on Icelandair’s flights, dedicated freighter flights on Boeing 737 started in 1997. As demand for the services grew, Boeing 757 freighters were added to the fleet in 1999. Due to the increasing importance of the cargo operation within Icelandair, the subsidiary Icelandair Cargo was established at the end of 1999 to handle cargo operations solely. In 2023 Icelandair Cargo added Boeing 767 freighters to their fleet and today they are only operating Boeing 767 freighters.
“The utilization is very good. A condition for this to work for us is that we utilize the trips in both directions: that we find a place where we can both export fish and bring goods back.”
Freshness is extremely important
Icelandair Cargo’s freighter flies to Belgium in Europe and to Keflavik and then onwards to JFK in New York and then back to Keflavik. “We handle this just like Icelandair does with the passengers; we always connect through Keflavik,” says Sigurgeir. The company’s main customers export fresh fish; whitefish and salmon. “Both the sellers who sell the fish export it and the producers do so directly.”
However, it is not only fish that is exported by Icelandair Cargo; the planes also fly to Iceland full of vegetables, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals for the country. “The utilization is very good. A condition for this to work for us is that we utilize the trips in both directions: that we find a place where we can both export fish and bring goods back.”
Everything is primarily about freshness. “Our customers send fresh products to the market, and then they need to do that in the shortest possible time, and that is where air freight is a good fit,” Sigurgeir points out.
“We have strict standards that we follow. We have warehouses in Keflavík and abroad at our destinations. We also adhere to very strict standards for packaging the product to keep it as fresh as possible. We ensure that the product is kept cool and at a good temperature the whole way. It cannot exceed a certain temperature, and there are very strict processes that we and our staff adhere to to ensure that the product remains at a certain temperature all the way to its destination.”
Sigurgeir states that Icelandair Cargo is one of only few cargo airlines in the world that specialize in perishables – the transport of fresh goods sensitive to temperature and time. “It should also not be forgotten that we import vegetables as well, so fresh goods are a priority for us. That is our expertise.”
“Our customers send fresh products to the market, and then they need to do that in the shortest possible time, and that is where air freight is a good fit.”
Most activity in winter
Icelandair Cargo’s destinations include, as mentioned, Europe, specifically Liege in Belgium. Often, fish goes on from there in refrigerated trucks within Belgium, to France, and various other places in Europe. Salmon is also transported to Belgium, which is then flown to Asia. Additionally, the company utilizes Icelandair’s route network to Amsterdam, and from there the salmon is sent to Asia.
“On the American side, we fly to Boston and New York. We use a freighter to New York and utilize Icelandair’s route network to Boston, but these cities are our most important destinations in the United States. These are our core destinations where we have the most activity. There is hardly a flight from Iceland where we don’t have fresh fish on board, either to Europe or America,” says Sigurgeir.
There are fluctuations in this industry as in others. Sigurgeir mentions in this context that the COVID period was very challenging, as passenger flights decreased drastically. “As for seasonal fluctuations in exports, which is tied to the quota and how much fish can be caught at each time as well as the production of farmed fish. Winter is a peak season for exports from Iceland.”
A strong emphasis is placed on the carbon footprint of transported goods and that has become more important than ever.
Sigurgeir states that Icelandair Cargo works according to a specific policy regarding these matters. “We offer our customers the option to offset their carbon emissions from transport, and we are compliant with regulations regarding the carbon footprint. It also helps that we utilize passenger flights that are already going to and from Iceland. This significantly benefits us. We are not only adding new flights. We efficiently utilize the passenger route network this way.”
As the leading airline in Iceland and an important employer, Icelandair takes their responsibility seriously towards their stakeholders; employees, customers, and shareholders, as well as the environment, the Icelandic economy, and society at large. Icelandair supports the United
Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has chosen four goals that represent the Company’s key sustainability focus areas. Icelandair is also a signatory of the UN Global Compact. The company is also working on revising their sustainability strategy to strengthen their commitments to key priorities as sustainability is at the center of the company‘s strategy, and it plays an important role in the day-to-day decisions and operations. ‘Embracing our people and the planet’ is one of the three guiding principles of the corporate strategy and underlines that all decisions should be made with consideration to the responsibilities towards employees, the wider community and the environment.
“We have strict standards that we follow.”
Responsibility towards the environment is great Aviation has a significant impact on the environment, particularly through carbon emissions. The company states that it takes its responsibility towards the environment seriously and sets high standards to achieve improved environmental performance and align with the Icelandic authorities’ policy framework for Icelandic tourism – aiming to become a leader in sustainable development.
Icelandair recognizes the influence that air travel has on the environment by addressing its responsibilities to reduce emissions, conserve natural resources, and optimize the use of sustainable energy and recyclable materials. The company’s website states that Icelandair is certified to the highest level of the IEnvA environmental certification program from IATA, which requires ongoing demonstration of improvements in environmental performance.
Sustainable business growth necessitates addressing their environmental impact both globally and locally. As part of this effort, they participate in the work of various environmental working groups, such as with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlines for Europe (A4E). Furthermore, they participate in the incentive project of Responsible Tourism in Iceland along with over 300 companies, aimed at maintaining Iceland’s status as an optimal future destination for tourists by supporting sustainability for future generations.
“But of course, flying is always flying, and we do everything in our power to offset carbon emissions and do as much as we can. It is a demand from our customers.”
Sigurgeir further states that the company puts high focus on being as green as possible when it comes to flying. “But of course, flying is always flying, and we do everything in our power to offset carbon emissions and do as much as we can.”
Another key focus for the company is reducing food waste. “Food waste is, of course, a massive problem in the world. Transporting fresh products in the shortest time possible naturally helps in reducing all food waste. This is something that comes with air freight, where you are racing against the clock. We are always the fastest way to transport and we always have the freshest products, any way you look at it. This is simply not the same product as transported with seafreight. When a product does not arrive fresh in a grocery store, there is a higher likelihood of food waste, as it only has a few days of shelf life left in the store. That is something we want to emphasize and keep the conversation going,” he concludes.
Ingredients:
Smoked Salmon – three slices per person
Handfill of iceberg or other salad mix – fresh and crunchy is a must 4pc cherry tomatoes
½ lemon
Fresh dill by taste
6-10 pc kapers
Method:
Cut the salad into bite size pieces. Sprinkle the tomatos and kapers on the dish. Place the salmon slices on top followed by fresh dill. Squeeze the lemon as needed over.
Ingredients for the sauce:
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tsp mayonnaise
3 tbsp heavy cream
Dijon mustard by taste
honey by taste
Method:
Stir together sour cream, mayonnaise and heavy cream. Add mustard and honey until it suits your palate and tastes good. Add sauce to your favorite sauce boat and enjoy.
Markus Lifenet provides innovative, reliable rescue and escape equipment to all areas of the marine sector, from commercial fishing vessels to international oil rigs.
A man overboard incident is a dangerous situation that can occur at any time on a vessel, and it's crucial to have the right equipment to respond quickly and effectively. Markus Lifenet in Iceland is a company specializing in developing and supplying products designed to help recover people who have fallen overboard. With over 40 years of experience in man overboard safety and rescue products, Markus Lifenet offers practical and efficient solutions to the international maritime community.
The unique Markusnet rescue device
Their flagship product is the Markusnet, an innovative lifesaver and the only one of its kind in the industry. The net is unique in design, allowing the rescued individual to stand, sit or lie in it, is ISO-standardized and can be both manually and crane-operated. Additionally, the Markusnet is lightweight and more flexible than other rescue nets on the market.
“Our unique Markusnet is my grandfather’s innovation and has been further developed by us based on extensive experience in the field,” says Rakel Yr Petursdottir, CEO of Markus Lifenet. “It has proven to be successful in situations where traditional methods have usually failed.” Since 1986, the Markusnet has been required on all deck vessels 45 feet (15 meters) and larger in Iceland. ISO certified and approved by Lloyd's Register EMEA, the Markusnet is also mandatory equipment on decked vessels in several countries and a standard in harbors in Iceland. It was introduced to the MSC and DE committees at the IMO during the development of new requirements III-17.1 in SOLAS for man overboard recovery systems.
When time is of the essence
“The Markusnet is designed to quickly and efficiently rescue individuals who have fallen overboard. Upon deployment, a throw line is used to establish a connection between the individual and the ship,” explains Pétursdóttir. “This line then serves as a means for the individual to pull themselves to the net, where they can sit or lie down and be lifted up to safety by two crew members. The net is very effective and reliable, particularly when every second counts. Under optimal conditions, the entire rescue process can be completed in just one minute.”
The Markusnet is manufactured in different versions based on the freeboard height of the vessel and is available for lifeboats, tender boats, public transport boats, and offshore coastguard vessels. With the right equipment and training, the risk of man overboard incidents can be reduced, leading to a safer ship, lower insurance costs, and a more positive team morale.
“The rescue process can take only one minute with the Markusnet.”
Rakel Yr Petursdottir, CEO of Markus Lifenet
The company has been promoting the renowned man overboard rescue technique Markusnet to the international maritime community since 1984 and has been dedicated to improving and refining its systems over the years. The device has been developed over several generations and has now become a standard for international maritime safety.
“We launched the fifth version in 1999 and the net is now widely used on deck boats, ships, quay areas, and offshore installations,” says Petursdottir. “Our nets are reusable without having to repack them, and are available for both manual and crane use.”
In 2002, the company released its first rescue net designed specifically for FRB boats, which has proven to be an effective and user-friendly solution. Building on the success of the Markus MOB Boat (FRB) Rescue-net, Markus Lifenet went on to develop the Markus man overboard scramble-net for lifeboats, tender boats, public transport boats, and offshore coastguard vessels. This innovative product allows for single deck crew to provide a fast and reliable man overboard recovery option.
The MOB Rescue-net is designed for SOLAS type rescue boats. It is designed to roll an unconscious MOB onboard in a horizontal position. Workboats with limited lifting height can easily use the company’s Cradle Rescue-net that has a lifting height range from 0.5m to 2.5m and a suitable rescue zone midship.
For vessels with high freeboard height, the Cargo Ship Rescue-net provides the necessary means for lifting MOB with lifting height from 3m (12’) to 10m (35’) with a suitable rescue zone midship on both sides. “Our larger climbing nets have proven successful in mass rescues, such as in the Mediterranean,” explains Pétursdóttir. “Those who have the strength can get up themselves while the rescuers focus on the others.”
According to Pétursdóttir their climbing nets are cost effective, their production is efficient and they are lighter than other rescue nets on the market. In addition, all their equipment is moveable which is more efficient and flexible than many other similar products.
version MS.02
Markusnet: A one-ofa-kind, ISOstandardized, life-saving net that can be operated manually or with a crane.
In addition to these products, Markus Lifenet Ltd also provides the Markus MOB Emergency ladder for boat type MEL2. The ladder is designed for leisure boats and workboats of all types and provides a person who has fallen overboard and a rescue swimmer the ability to climb back on board. “The ladder is used more on skiffs and sailboats as an addition to fixed equipment on the side of the boat,” explains Pétursdóttir. “This has saved many people, especially when people have been sailing or working alone.”
As a third-generation director of a family business, Pétursdóttir takes pride in the quality of their service. She stresses the importance of regular maintenance and service for their products. “In the event of a man overboard, it is crucial that the equipment is in top working order. We have a strict maintenance and inspection protocol in place that I implemented in 2015 and our clients have been very happy to have a well-regulated inspection framework for their rescue equipment.”
The company has a network of agents around the world that cover both sales and service. They perform maintenance checks and each time a replacement part is needed the company does a security check on the equipment in question. This is in addition to the scheduled maintenance for each item.
“Our international clients are very conscientious in maintaining and caring for their equipment,” Pétursdóttir explains. “Most of our agents and resellers have their own service departments locally and carry out the same inspection protocol as we do. They are proactive in their service and are always on hand if and when needed.”
Markus Lifenet’s commitment to innovation and rigorous testing has resulted in a range of products that meet the demands of official government bodies. The company has a long-standing relationship with the Icelandic Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard and has supplied equipment to military organizations around the world.
“We’ve always had a great working relationship with the Icelandic Coast Guard. They have participated in our testing and supported our development over the years,” says Pétursdóttir. “Our dedication to test-
ing and innovation has resulted in the Markusnet becoming the only equipment of its type with ISO approval.”
The company is continuously working towards the development of larger nets, as they believe their lighter and more cost-effective products have the potential to meet the requirements of increasingly larger vessels and oil rigs.
The R&D department of Markusnet started developing the largest nets in cooperation with the developers of moveable oil platforms. As there were no standards available for escape and rescue equipment of this scale, the company relied on decades of experience and expertise to create a solution that would suit vessels of this scale. With the same innovative spirit that produced the Markusnet, the company delivered an SCN Escape product that has been widely adopted on international oil platforms.
“We see great potential for our products, particularly as vessels and oil rigs become increasingly larger,” says Pétursdóttir. “Our largest escape nets have been supplied to large, moveable oil rigs in the Gulf of Guinea and to some of the largest vessels in the world. Our experience and innovative spirit make us well-equipped to meet the needs of these industries.”
This is a brilliant way to get the children to eat fish, easy dish to enjoy.
Ingredients
cod / catfish aprox. 120 g per person
red cabbage 500 g iceberg ½ head
red bellpepper 1 whole. green bellpepper 1 whole. leek 1stk.
Feta cheese as needed mango fresh 2 pc.
Olive oil or other cooking oil
tortilla-wraps 1package of medium / large size
Spices
salt
pepper freshly crushed
paprika
lemon pepper
garlic pepper
parsley
mint
Method
Take the cod / catfish and rub it in the spice mix and fry it on medium heat until fully cooked (you can also cook it in a oven). Cut the red cabbage in thin strips as well as the leek. Cut or tear iceberg. Bell peppers are cut into small cubes as well as the feta cheese and the mango (can also buy frozen mango that come in cubes).
Mix all well in a bowl. Warm up the wraps and enjoy
Vísir is an experienced yet innovative fishing company, which operates long-line and trawl vessels and runs its state-of-the-art processing facilities in Grindavík, one of the most vibrant fishing towns in Iceland.
Vísir offers a rich variety of premium groundfish products and serves a broad group of demanding customers from all over the globe.
We look forward to seeing you at booth 4D 401 Seafood Expo in Barcelona.