B-68 / ŻUŁAWY


Fish carrier ŻUŁAWY (type B-68)

Keel laid: 7 January 1972

Launched: 4 June 1974

Delivered: 7 March 1975

With the development of the Polish fishing industry, Polish shipyards began to build a fleet of fish transporters to service the flotilla of factory trawlers operating in faraway fishing grounds off the coasts of both Americas and Africa. A series of fish carriers was built based on the experience gained from the operation of fishing bases and temporarily converted refrigerated cargo vessels. Type B-68 carriers were used to transport supplies to fishing vessels and collect the fish from them. Their well-equipped workshops made it possible to make minor repairs on the fishing vessels.

They were succeeded by eight large type B-364 fish carriers built in Gdańsk.

Technical specifications:

capacity: 8120 GRT, 3800 NRT; 8439 DWT;

dimensions: 151.3 x 21.0 x 7.4 m

propulsion: two Zgoda-Sulzer 6ZB40/48 diesel engines with 9600 total hp

speed: 17.8 knots

crew: 65 + room for 114 fishing personnel

Four type B-68 vessels were built for Polish shipowners in 1974-1981.


The rapid development of the fishing industry in Poland in the 1950s brought about an entire fleet of fishing vessels, including ships that were able to fish in the North Sea: large fishing boats and trawler-drifters 25-32 m in length. For political reasons, it was impossible for Polish vessels to use bases in Dutch ports, so fish carriers and base vessels were introduced. The former were to transport fish from the fisheries to Poland. The latter collected and pre-processed the fish, ensured the fishing vessel crews room for rest and medical assistance, and enabled small repairs for the fishing vessels to be performed by the crews from the base-located workshops. The first fishing bases were converted from  old decommissioned general cargo vessels; Gdańsk Shipyard began to make its first fishing bases in 1958.

The fish had to be taken from the fisheries to Poland; this was done by fish carriers, which also brought materials to the fisheries that were necessary for the continuous operation of the fishing flotillas. Initially, regular cargo vessels were used for this purpose. However, with the introduction of factory trawlers, which had fish freezing capacity, the need arose for ships that would transport such cargo from the middle of the ocean or from off the coast of Africa or America.

The first three such ships (type B-433 refrigerated cargo ships at ca. 2900 GRT) were built for the Polish fishing industry in 1971-1972. In January 1974, the construction of a much larger vessel called Żuławy (type B-68 at over 8000 GRT), which combined the functions of carrier and base, began in Gdańsk. The next ships of this type were named Wineta, Kaszuby II and Mazury. They collected fish in barrels or cardboard boxes, fish oil and fish meal from the fishing vessels in the fisheries. They would also supply the ships in the fisheries with water, food and fuel and provide medical assistance.

The Żuławy sailed without incident until 1992, but after a series of malfunctions and a fire in its engine room, it was scrapped in 1994. The other ships in this series were also sold in the 1990s and their new owners scrapped them in 2000-2004.


The rapid development of the fishing industry in Poland in the 1950s brought about an entire fleet of fishing vessels, including ships that were able to fish in the North Sea: large fishing boats and trawler-drifters 25-32 m in length. For political reasons, it was impossible for Polish vessels to use bases in Dutch ports, so fish carriers and base vessels were introduced. The former were to transport fish from the fisheries to Poland. The latter collected and pre-processed the fish, ensured the fishing vessel crews room for rest and medical assistance, and enabled small repairs for the fishing vessels to be performed by the crews from the base-located workshops. The first fishing bases were converted from old decommissioned general cargo vessels; Gdańsk Shipyard began to make its first fishing bases in 1958.

The fish had to be taken from the fisheries to Poland; this was done by fish carriers, which also brought materials to the fisheries that were necessary for the continuous operation of the fishing flotillas. Initially, regular cargo vessels were used for this purpose. However, with the introduction of factory trawlers, which had fish freezing capacity, the need arose for ships that would transport such cargo from the middle of the ocean or from off the coast of Africa or America.

The first three such ships (type B-433 refrigerated cargo ships at ca. 2900 GRT) were built for the Polish fishing industry in 1971-1972. In January 1974, the construction of a much larger vessel called Żuławy (type B-68 at over 8000 GRT), which combined the functions of carrier and base, began in Gdańsk. The next ships of this type were named Wineta, Kaszuby II and Mazury. They collected fish in barrels or cardboard boxes, fish oil and fish meal from the fishing vessels in the fisheries. They would also supply the ships in the fisheries with water, food and fuel and provide medical assistance.

The Żuławy sailed without incident until 1992, but after a series of malfunctions and a fire in its engine room, it was scrapped in 1994. The other ships in this series were also sold in the 1990s and their new owners scrapped them in 2000-2004.

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