“Both the boat and the packing facility are oversized, but it is not because we are going to empty the Norwegian coast,” said Carl Line Erik Arnesen, CEO of Hav Line.
There was a good atmosphere among the attendants in Hirtshals when the official opening of Hav Line Processing, the world’s largest packing facility for salmon, took place on Thursday.
Since New Year, the packing facility has dealt with nearly 8,000 tonnes of salmon, a number which is very far from the capacity of the plant.
“We have a very large capacity, we can process 8-10,000 tonnes a week through here. It all depends on how much salmon is coming in. Both the boat, «Norwegian Gannet», and the facility are oversized,” said Arnesen to SalmonBusiness in Hirtshals.
Capacity
Arnesen said that the oversize is not because Hav Line will empty the Norwegian coast, but because they then have the ability to get the fish away quickly and maintain good quality.
“That’s the reason why we have this capacity that some are a bit threatened by. It’s not for us to take everything. It will be a supplement to already existing facilities,” he said.
“Are you planning for more harvesting vessels?”
“I think the «Norwegian Gannet» will do for us, but I think there are many others who will make their own harvesting vessels, and that this way of harvesting will be the future. I am absolutely convinced of that,” said Arnesen.
Heroes
Also present during the opening were Arne Boelt, Mayor of Hjørring Municipality, and Minister of Finance in Denmark, Kristian Jensen (V). They stood for the tying of the cord outside the plant.
Arnesen said that the reception Hav Line has received in Denmark is very good.
“In Hirtshals, we are heroes, they are very happy about our project. Hirtshals has almost become the world’s largest port for ferries, both Color Line, Fjord Line, and Nord Line arrives daily, and now they also have Hav Line. So it’s really a big transport hub,” he said.
According to Arnesen, the industry in Northern Jutland, Denmark, is also happy to get even more fish through the region.
