With ships lying up in the Irish Sea to avoid Storm Ciara a worrying sight is the Dutch Super Trawler Willem Van Der Zwann which came up through the Celtic Sea and into the Irish sea last night. At the time she was accompanied by another super trawler but their AIS seems to be of today.
The vessel is currently about 30 km off Co Dublin travelling at just over three knots which would suggest it is fishing. The vessel is 9500 tonnes so she is at the top end of the range of these vessels and can catch and process hundreds of tonnes of fish per day.
First time we have logged one of these beasts in the Irish Sea they are usually in the Channel and off Western Ireland and Scotland.
Bernard Moffatt
Assistant General Secretary Celtic League (7th February 2020)
