Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Gerda-Maria

The storied vessel 'Gerda Maria' has officially departed from Bremerhaven fishing port on November 13, 2025, marking a significant milestone in maritime history. After months of docked inactivity, this German deep-sea trawler, owned by Nordbank Hochseefischerei GmbH, a subsidiary of the Dutch fishing giant Parlevliet & Van der Plas, is now en route to its new life in the Pacific Ocean, under the ownership of a buyer from New Zealand. Following its departure, 'Gerda Maria' charted a course through the Kiel Canal towards Klaipeda, where it arrived on November 15. Here, it is set to undergo crucial maintenance and modifications before embarking on its new journey. The vessel was last officially registered in the ship register at its home port of Rostock. The 'Gerda Maria' was decommissioned in April 2024, coinciding with the arrival of its new counterpart, the fishing vessel 'Jan Maria.' Many of its 26 crew members transitioned to the larger replacement. The decommissioned trawler was initially offered for sale at nine million euros via a Danish broker, later reduced to a negotiable five million euros on an online sales platform. Constructed in 1990, 'Gerda Maria' originally sailed under the name 'Cuxhaven' for the German Fishing Union. In 1996, the vessel shifted from fresh fish fishing and underwent a conversion to become a freezer trawler, primarily targeting Greenland halibut, cod, and redfish destined for the Japanese market. After its acquisition by Nordbank Deep-Sea Fishing in 2000, the ship was extended to a length of 81.32 meters, and under its new name, it predominantly operated in the North Atlantic. The fishing catch was processed and deep-frozen on board, with regular unloading occurring at the Bremerhaven port.

On June 2, 2025, a chemical leak incident took place aboard the trawler 'Gerda Maria', docked in the fishing port of Bremerhaven. The ship experienced an ammonia leak, leading to swift action from local authorities. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries resulting from the incident. At approximately 7:10 p.m., bystanders alerted the water police to an overpowering odor of ammonia wafting from the vessel. Emergency responders quickly identified a leak in one of the facilities onboard. Reports indicated that up to 100 liters of this hazardous chemical had spilled into a confined area. The Bremerhaven Fire Department promptly arrived on the scene with several fire vehicles to assist in the response efforts. Collaborating closely with the water police, they implemented necessary safety measures and cordoned off the vicinity around the ship. A specialized hazardous materials team conducted pollutant assessments and confirmed that there was no immediate environmental threat. To address the leak's source, a specialized team from the Netherlands is scheduled to arrive on June 3 to pinpoint the leak and ensure it is sealed off permanently.

On February 14, 2012, the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel 'Nordkapp' conducted an operation to seize the trawler 'Gerda Maria', which was escorted to Tromsø amid allegations of illegal fishing. The vessel was under scrutiny for suspected unlawful fishing practices, including the underreporting of haddock catches within the critical fisheries protection zone surrounding Svalbard. Following the incident, the case was taken up by the Tromsø police on February 17. As a result of the investigation, the trawler's owner faced a hefty fine of two million Norwegian crowns, while the ship's master, a Lithuanian national, was penalized with an additional fine of 30,000 crowns. For further details, refer to the Norwegian report featuring a photo available at http://www.nordlys.no/nyheter/article5934277.ece.