Name and Registration Changes – The Shadowy World of the Super Trawler
The super trawler MFV Dirk Dirk currently attracting attention off the West of Ireland is typical of this type of vessel. Its flag has been changed many times and its had ‘homes’ from the Faroes, Germany to Australia occasionally reverting to the Dutch flag of its owners the fishing conglomerate Parlevliet & van der Plas Haringhandel BV
The vessel has had a number of name changes first appearing as MFV Dirk-Dirk and then via various incarnations until reverting to its original. The most infamous was MFV Geelong Star when – registered in Australia – it was the subject of controversy and eventually left their waters after considerable political opposition.
The vessel operators, one of a couple of fishing conglomerates based in Holland, owns about 30 vessels many of which would be labelled super trawlers. Indeed the Van Der Plas group own the worlds largest the Annelies Ilena
Here are some links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geelong_Starhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlevliet_%26_van_der_Plas
Image: The MFV Dirk Dirk – Inset: another super-trawler of the Van der plas group the MFV Annelies Ilena
Bernard Moffatt
Assistant General Secretary Celtic League (23rd November 2020)
