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Havbryn named in Ålesund - VARD-built stern trawler marks a new chapter for Havbryn AS
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6 Oct 2026

Havbryn named in Ålesund - VARD-built stern trawler marks a new chapter for Havbryn AS

VARD, a Fincantieri Group subsidiary and a leading global designer and builder of specialized vessels, has officially named Havbryn, a new advanced stern trawler built for Havbryn AS and operated by Strand Rederi. The naming ceremony was held at the shipowner’s home port in Ålesund, Norway, with Milla Louise Strand Follestad serving as Godmother. The event marked a significant milestone for Havbryn AS, VARD and the maritime community on Norway’s west coast.


The 80.4-metre vessel is based on VARD’s proven VARD 8 02 design and replaces the previous Havbryn, built in Turkey in 2013. Designed for both semi-pelagic and bottom-trawling operations, the new vessel combines efficient fishing capabilities with high product quality while reducing its environmental impact.


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Havbryn at the quay in Ålesund, Norway, on the day of the naming ceremony.


Astrid Strand, CEO of Havbryn AS, said the company is proud to put the new vessel into operation and praised VARD and its employees for their expertise and support throughout the project. The vessel was delivered on schedule, with the naming ceremony marking both the completion of the project and the start of a new chapter for the company.


Havbryn AS is part of Strand Rederi, one of Norway’s largest family-owned fishing companies. The new vessel reflects the company’s continued investment in future-oriented fisheries while strengthening VARD’s position as a builder of advanced fishing vessels for Norwegian owners.

Built for the future

Together with its owner, Fincantieri Group, VARD combines local shipbuilding expertise, close customer cooperation and a global industrial platform to develop tailor-made, future-ready vessels that integrate advanced design, green technologies and reliable project delivery.

Havbryn is equipped with an ice-strengthened hull, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and Vard Electro’s SeaQ Energy Storage System, along with an advanced H/G processing factory. Its spacious refrigerated and frozen cargo areas, combined with ensilage tanks for biomass processing ashore, are designed to maximize the utilization of each catch.

Crew welfare is also a key focus, with modern accommodation, architect-designed public areas, day and mess rooms, a gym and comfortable cabins designed for demanding operations at sea. These facilities were delivered by Vard Interiors.

Seaonics has supplied a premium winch and crane package designed to enable safe and efficient deck handling in challenging conditions. During wire shooting and paying out, the winches regenerate power to the SeaQ Energy Storage System, helping reduce overall energy consumption during operations.

"Havbryn is a strong VARD product and a vessel we are truly proud of. The design comes from Vard Design in Ålesund, with key deliveries from Vard Electro, Vard Interiors and Seaonics. Together with Havbryn AS, we have developed a future-oriented fishing vessel — and the project also creates important value for the Norwegian maritime supplier network."
- Frode Klokk, Yard Director at Vard Brattvaag which has delivered the vessel.

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Delivered on time

The hull was constructed at Vard Shipyards Romania – Brăila before the vessel underwent final outfitting, commissioning, testing and delivery at Vard Brattvaag in Norway. The project was completed on schedule, drawing on VARD’s integrated value chain and expertise across design, electrical systems, interiors, piping and deck handling.

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Godmother Milla Strand Follestad is naming the vessel Tone Molnes/VARD

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