The Norwegian pelagic trawler Kings Bay has adopted Vónin’s Twister trawl doors, and the first results have been strikingly positive. Skipper Bjørn Sævik, with 35 years of experience at sea, describes the new gear as “a giant leap” for his vessel’s operations.
A deliberate choice
Operating from Ålesund, Kings Bay has long fished for herring, mackerel, and blue whiting. Earlier this year, the crew decided to switch to active-control trawl doors after carefully comparing options.
Price, strength, and feedback from other skippers all played a role. Twister, Sævik concluded, was the right fit.
“We were probably among the last to go for active-control doors in our area,” he said. “But in the end, Twister was the right choice.”
Smoother handling at sea
The doors were installed in May and have since been tested mainly during mackerel fishing. The results speak for themselves.
Twister’s ability to maintain depth and spread—even in sharp turns—has made towing more stable and predictable. That has improved efficiency and eased the pressure on both gear and crew.
“When you can control the doors, it’s a giant leap compared to what we’ve been used to,” Sævik explained. “It works optimally.”
Early gains, long-term promise
Beyond performance, the crew has welcomed the system’s ease of use. The controls are straightforward, and while there is still a learning curve, adaptation has been fast.
The skipper believes the real test will be durability over time, but so far, he sees no doubts.
“There’s no comparison between Twister and conventional doors,” Sævik said, adding that the gear has already delivered peace of mind.
For Kings Bay, the decision to shift to Twister marks a clear step forward. With the technology now proven at sea, the vessel is well placed to benefit from its advantages in the years ahead.