For the first entry in our Vessel Spotlight series, we’re going to look at the biggest, newest, and most advanced vessel in the BWS fleet, the F/V Blue North.
Vessel Design and Construction
Designed by innovative Norwegian naval architects Skipsteknisk and constructed in Anacortes, WA by Dakota Creek Industries in 2015, the Blue North is the largest and most technologically advanced vessel in the Bristol Wave fleet. With an LOA (length overall) of 191.5 feet / 58.35 meters and a beam (width) of 42 feet / 12.8 meters, the Blue North is capable of harvesting and processing up to 1,200 round metric tons of Pacific Cod and producing 36,000 cases of sustainably caught finished product in a single trip.
Standard crew size on the Blue North is 24+ persons on board (POB), including a USCG licensed officer core composed of a captain, mate, chief engineer, & assistant engineer, a dedicated cook/steward, as many as 20 deckhands and factory processors, and a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) observer. The vessel has a total of 26 crew berths.
The Blue North was designed and constructed with a heavily weighted box keel design and an anti-roll tank, the combination of which provides an exceptionally stable working platform, making the vessel well equipped for operations in the Bering Sea.
The Blue North is also equipped with two highly innovative features, a first of its kind for the US commercial fishing industry “moon pool” hauling station, and an advanced “L-Drive” dual-azimuth propulsion system.
Moon Pool Hauling Station
Traditional longline vessels bring fish on board by hauling the groundline up and out of the water, where the line passes over a “roller.” Deckhands gaff each fish, clearing it from the hook and line and ensuring the fish makes it onto the conveyer system and into the factory for processing. The Blue North is equipped with a “moon pool,” a literal opening in the central base of the hull, allowing fish to be hauled on board without exposing crew members to harsh weather conditions or rough seas on an exposed or partially exposed deck. The F/V Blue North was the first US-based commercial fishing vessel to incorporate this feature. Check out the moon pool in action:L-Drive Dual-Azimuth Propulsion
While virtually all US-based commercial fishing vessels utilize a standard shaft and propeller drive system with rudder-based steering, the Blue North is equipped with an “L-Drive” or dual-azimuth propulsion system. This system uses a diesel-electric hybrid power plant to drive steerable, 360-degree rotating thruster pods mounted to the underside of the vessel. L-Drive propulsion allows for superior maneuverability, increased efficiency, and maximizes usable space by eliminating the need for a long propeller shaft and rudders. Where traditional vessels must maneuver using a fixed directional drive with a limited turning radius, the Blue North can quite literally “walk sideways.”
Current Operations & 2026 Outlook
The Blue North departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska on January 9th, and is still fishing as of November. The vessel is estimated to offload its final trip of 2025 on December 5th and will undergo port maintenance in Dutch Harbor for the remainder of December, with a planned departure for 2026 A-Season in the first week of January. We anticipate they will complete five trips in 2026, with the vessel in continuous operation from January through October, when it will return to the deep-water port of Anacortes, WA for maintenance, inspections, and upgrades at Dakota Creek shipyard.
Starting the 2026 season and leading a highly experienced crew will be veteran captain Mike Fitzgerald, who has been captain of the Blue North since the planning and construction stages.
“The Blue North was designed for crew safety and comfort. The vessel is DNV classed, which means it meets the highest safety standards. With diesel electric engines powering L-drive propulsion pods, we have excellent maneuverability, and most importantly it is almost completely silent. The Blue North has a molded hull, which slips through the water easily, and makes it very fuel efficient for a vessel this large. The moon pool allows our deckhands to haul ground line in a climate-controlled room, safe from waves and weather. The moon pool has a 100% retention rate for all cod coming up on the gear. The Blue North also has an anti-roll tank, which makes the vessel a very stable platform to process fish, and comfortable to live aboard. With a 25-man crew, all our crew have 1-2 man staterooms, each with a private shower/bathroom. The staterooms all have lounge chairs and tables, which makes for comfortable living. The Blue North has one of the largest fish capacities in the longline fleet; our trips are longer, so creature comforts are appreciated. The best part of the Blue North is our Bristol Wave crewmen, who we have retained for many productive seasons.”
– Captain Mike Fitzgerald
Stay tuned for future entries in our Vessel Spotlight series, where we will dig into the history and design of each vessel in the Bristol Wave fleet!