A Vessel of Evolution - ARCTIC TRAWLER 1986 by Konrad S. Uri  North Pacific Focus / National Fisherman Magazine Summer 2016

It was the Summer of 1986 and we were fishing Greenland Turbot in Seguam Pass with the ARCTIC TRAWLER.  I had varied crew aboard the vessel, including longstanding employees, my 20 year old son Kris and his friends from the University of Washington, Matt Emmons  a Woodway High School friend included , my youngest son Karl (11 years old), Glenn & Scott Penny (their Mother was co-worker at Boeing with my wife Helen’s sister), former Seattle Sounders Defender Mike England’s son Wayne, and Pat Dedmore fresh out of the California Maritime Academy as First Mate.  

It was a great time, fishing was fantastic, and prices were good.  This was directly contrary to the previous year when we had been fishing Pollock and times were, well, not so good.

For those that don’t know, the Arctic Trawler (ex SEAFREEZE ATLANTIC) is a historical vessel in the United States.  Dubbed the ‘Ship of Fools’ by National Fisherman Magazine back in the 1970’s as the SEAFREEZE ATLANTIC, the vessel was a pioneer as the first retrofitted Factory Trawler to make its way as the ARCTIC TRAWLER (all the way from Norfolk Virginia where it had been mothballed by the failed ‘Ship of Fools’ crew) to the Pacific Cod Fishery of the North Pacific and Bering Sea in 1980.

1986 was really the last ‘good times’ summer aboard the fine vessel.  I had half my family aboard, their friends and we were making fine money.  Seguam Pass, between Amlia Island and Seguam Island is known for prime fishing grounds and unfortunately a rocky bottom.  This made for a good learning opportunity for the University of Washington crew that learned to cut and sew web like pros (read three bar, two bar, two bar … three bar).  We had 8 nets aboard and we tore up every tow; the longstanding crew and young College guys had a helluva time keeping up!

My sons were busy, working alongside me, as had been our family tradition dating back to the RAINIER (see my previous articles, Dutch Treat North Pacific Focus Fall 2015 and Bering Birthday North Pacific Focus Summer 2015).  Karl at 11 years old was working between the factory and the galley; Kris at 20 was our winch driver and deckhand. 

Due to the market conditions at the time, we were targeting Greenland Turbot and packing in an H&G format (Headed and Gutted in 20 kg frozen blocks).  This made the factory crew happy as well as it was much simpler than the fillets of Pollock and Cod that we had done in previous years.  And the cherry on top of the sundae was the weekly tow of Black Cod (Sable Fish) that upped the weekly revenue considerably. 

Unfortunately, the good times would come to an end as the previous year’s downturn during the Pollock fishery had driven home the decision to sell the vessel.  Long time General Manager Mike Nordby took the helm at Arctic King and the vessel was converted yet again – this time into a surimi trawler.  She later was reflagged into the Soviet Union as the POLARNIY and now has come full circle back to the H&G fishery as the SEAFREEZE ALASKA, currently operated by United States Seafoods (which happens to be part of the Amendment 80 fleet that my son Kris is also active in as GM at Fishermen’s Finest). 

Fishing has been my life – we were in this together (family, friends, and friends of family) and worked as if our lives depended on it.  Which they did – this was serious business.  I am pleased to see many of the people I’ve had the good fortune to work with continue to make a living in the fishing industry.  Of course, my children are all currently involved in the industry, Scott Penny is a longline Captain at Clipper Seafoods, Glenn is a deckhand between Pollock C/V’s and A80 trawlers, and Pat Dedmore is an officer aboard American Seafoods’ OCEAN ROVER.   There were many others and I hope to write more of the experiences we shared.

When we look back upon the experience of fishing together as a family and in a fleet that treated each other like family, I have nothing but the fondest memories, no matter how hard we were actually working.

Konrad, Kris, and Karl Uri on the Arctic Trawler in Seguam Pass - Alaska 

The Long Haul - A vessel of Evolution - Arctic Trawler 1986 by Konrad S. Uri        Permanent Link: Arctic Trawler

Related by Konrad S. Uri

• Bering Sea Birthday
• Dutch Treat