Built by Macduff Shipyards the vessel replaces the owners previously vessel of the same name, which was built by the same yard in 2000. Like the previous vessel it is intended that she will fish out of Peterhead in the North East of Scotland, targeting primarily prawns in the North Sea.

CELESTIAL DAWN is a complete new design which was developed with close collaboration between Macduff Ship Design and Macduff Shipyards. The vessel is the first of a series which now stretches to three sisterships, with the second vessel already under construction, and the third vessel due to commence construction later in the year. This series of fishing vessel will share not only the same hull form but also the same place of origin, with all three vessels being built at the shipyard’s fabrication hall in Buckie, a significant milestone for both the yard and town.

The design of Celestial Dawn began in 2018 and although intended to fish in a similar way to the owner’s previous vessel, the design of the new vessel was focused to both enhance crew comfort and improve fuel efficiency. During the early design phase the Wolfson Unit in Southampton was commissioned to run a case study of two hull forms utilising CFD technology. The first hull form was a design previously built by the shipyard for a similar type of fishing, the second was a new concept model for the CELESTIAL DAWN featuring increased waterline length, a gradual bustle forward of the propeller and a new stem design where the bulbous bow was not fully submerged but rather tapered gradually into the bow’s upper region. Results from the study indicated a significant reduction in hull resistance at the two test speeds of 8 and 10 knots which was verified recently during sea trials where the CELESTIAL DAWN recorded an average top speed of 10.5 knots. Another significant difference between designs was the increase in beam from around 7.0 m of previous vessels in this category up to around 7.6m. The increase in beam allowed the vessel to carry less internal ballast whilst also creating more deck space which was of particular benefit within the accommodation and fish processing areas. As a result of the increased dimensions the gross tonnage of the vessel was around 10% higher than the previous CELESTIAL DAWN.

With the initial design complete the construction plans and steel cutting data was drawn up by Macduff Ship Design. The hull of CELESTIAL DAWN is built entirely from steel, with an aluminum wheelhouse and mast,. The hull features double chine construction, transom stern and modern bow designed to cut cleanly through the sea with less energy leading to a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions along with increased crew comfort. In broad terms the vessels arrangement is conventional for a Scottish trawler of this size. Below deck features the cabins, engine room, fish hold and a large freshwater tank forward of the collision bulkhead. Whereas above deck is situated the aft shelter, galley/mess and side passage area, fish processing area and then forepeak where the trawl winch is situated.

A bespoke hydraulic deck machinery package was fabricated by Macduff shipyard comprising of a triple barrel winch featuring a Hagglunds compact CA210 motor, two split net drums complete with two Hagglunds compact CA70 motor per drum, two bagging winches complete with Hagglunds CA70 motors, two small gear handling winches and a cod end lifting winch. Thistle Marine of Peterhead supplied both the MFB8 landing crane and MBK13 powerblock crane, both of which featuring a slew ring base. Primary hydraulic power is provided by a single Parker hydraulic pump driven from a dedicated Mitsubishi 6D24 auxiliary engine producing 218 kW whilst secondary hydraulic power is provided by a Parker hydraulic pump driven from a power take off fitted to the main propulsion’s gearbox. A hydraulically powered bow thruster with 1.1 tonnes of thrust is also fitted, supplied by Kort Propulsion. The hydraulic system, designed by the yard, is cooled via a Blokland box cooler and Bowman heat exchanger.

The propulsion package features a 2.5 m fixed pitch propeller supplied by Wartsila, driven by a CATERPILLAR C32 main engine with 660 hp @ 1600-1800 rpm through a Masson Marine W7400 reversible gearbox with 9.077:1 reduction. CELESTIAL DAWN is now the nineth vessel built by the shipyard in recent years to feature this propulsion package which has demonstrated itself to be both robust and adaptable with the Wide Operating Speed Range of the C32 main engine providing flexibility to achieve full power from a fixed pitch propeller both whilst steaming and trawling. CELESTIAL DAWN also features a triple rudder system and high lift propeller nozzle provided by Wartsila.

Cooling systems for all engines and hydraulics onboard are served by box coolers supplied by Blokland Non-Ferro.

Electrical power onboard is provided by two Mitsubishi generator sets supplied by Macduff Diesels Limited, each with a rating of 98 kWe and of sufficient size to run the vessels power independently providing complete redundancy.

The electrical systems onboard were designed and fitted by R.D. Downie who also fabricated the vessels switchboard and control panels for all the pumps and motor starters. In addition to this R.D. Downie also provided the fire, bilge and gas alarm systems onboard along with the navigation light panel and assisted with the installation of the navigation equipment.

The fish processing deck features a catch handling system built by the yard and Northeast Fabricators and is complemented by a resin floor system fitted by Davidsons Marine & Industrial Painters. A separate compartment is formed within the fish processing area which house both the ice plant room and the fish hold access hatch arranged with fixed permanent stair. The fish hold refrigeration system along with ice machine was supplied and fitted by Airo-Tech Solutions.

The vessel was fully painted by Davidson Marine & Industrial Painters with International Paints products applied to a comprehensive marine spec.

The high specification navigation package was supplied and fitted onboard by Woodsons of Aberdeen, including the Scanmar net monitoring package along with a JFC transducer.

List of Major suppliers
Hull design and stability information supplied by Macduff Ship Design
Caterpillar C32 main engine supplied by Finning Power Systems, UK
Propeller and nozzle supplied by Wartsila, Spain
Gearbox supplied by Masson Marine, France
Generator sets supplied by Macduff Diesels Ltd, UK
Box cooling systems for each engine and the hydraulic circuit supplied by Blokland Non Ferro, Netherlands
Pumps supplied by Azcue Pumps SA, Spain
Deck machinery equipment supplied by the yard
Deck cranes supplied by Thistle Marine, UK
Bow thruster supplied by the Kort Propulsion, UK
Fire doors supplied by B-15 Marine Ltd, UK
Weathertight doors supplied by Winel, Netherlands
Rudder system supplied by the yard
Steering gear supplied by Scan Steering APS, Denmark
Wheelhouse windows and portlights supplied by HK Van Wingerden & An BV, Netherlands
Fish handling system supplied by the North East Fabricators, UK
Refrigeration system and ice machine supplied by Airo-Tech Solutions, UK
Paint system by International Paints, UK
Wheelhouse chairs supplied by Norsap, UK
Oil fuel filter/separator and main engine oil fine filter supplied by CC Jensen, UK
Pressure washers supplied by Grampian Power Clean, UK
Anchors and chain supplied by Fendercare Marine, UK
Switchboard and electrical system supplied and installed by R D Downie Limited, UK