Ten trawlers, soon to be the pride of Korea’s fishing fleet, have been purchased by the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) as part of an over-all shipbuilding program designed to re-establish Korea’s war-shattered fishing industry, on which that country depends for some 80% of its protein diet.
Built by the Cheoy Lee Shipyard, Kowloon, Hong Kong, the vessels have a gross tonnage of 77.5 and an overall length of 75ft. They are equipped with British-manufactured Crossley 160 H.P, marine diesel engines and are capable of a speed of some 9 knots. They will be capable of fishing for cod in the Bering Sea and for all types of bottom fish in the East China Sea. Two of the 10 trawlers are leaving Hong Kong for Pusan this week. They will fly the United Nations Flag on the trip to Korea, which will mark the first time in history that the UN flag has been flown at sea. The remaining eight vessels will be delivered shortly.