Setting Sail for a Bountiful Return:

WIN RICH NO.707 Departs from Kaohsiung

▲Crew members and the Group’s team pose for a commemorative photo to mark the departure of WIN RICH NO.707.

WIN RICH NO.707, a purse seiner under Seaworth Holding Co., Ltd.’s Fair Well Fishery Group, returned to Kaohsiung in May this year after approximately two years of distant-water fishing operations. Following around two months of annual maintenance and preparations, the vessel recently departed from Qianzhen Fishing Harbor, bound for the waters of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to begin a new fishing voyage.

The voyage brings together 34 crew members from seven countries: Taiwan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam. With diverse nationalities and professional backgrounds, the crew will share responsibility for navigation, fishing, and vessel operations through clearly defined roles and close teamwork.

 

▲Coast Guard personnel conduct a boarding inspection.

Upgrading Freezing and Catch Handling Capabilities for the Voyage Ahead

In addition to routine equipment maintenance and servicing, the engineering team upgraded the vessel’s catch handling capabilities. In addition to installing fish storage racks, the freezing capacity of both holds was enhanced. These improvements strengthen catch preservation and handling capabilities while helping increase product value.

The Group also improved facilities and equipment essential to the crew’s daily life during extended periods at sea. Washing machines, spin dryers, and other household appliances were repaired or replaced. Pest control treatments, including insect and rodent control, were completed throughout the vessel, and crew bedding was replaced to improve onboard living conditions.

▲Crew members board the vessel one by one amid warm wishes and farewell handshakes.

During preparations in port, fresh vegetables, a variety of meats, and seafood were supplied according to onboard needs. A selection of ready-to-eat and prepared foods was also planned for the new voyage, providing convenient meal options before and after busy fishing operations.

Completing Preparations for Vessel Safety and Crew Working Conditions

During the maintenance period and before departure, WIN RICH NO.707 underwent periodic vessel surveys and relevant safety inspections in accordance with applicable requirements. The vessel also cooperated with on-site inspections of working conditions for foreign crew members recruited overseas, along with related verification activities and assessment visits. The Maritime and Port Bureau, CR Classification Society, the Fisheries Agency, and SGS conducted inspections or visits within their respective areas of responsibility, covering vessel equipment, safety management, and crew working conditions.

Furthermore, in compliance with the social responsibility audits required by FCF Co., Ltd. for its downstream buyers, the vessel ‘Hsing Fu Hwa 707’ has fully cooperated with the relevant assessments conducted by SGS.

Meanwhile, the shoreside operations management team coordinated crew arrangements and logistical support. Tasks included fisheries observer placement, crew recruitment and travel to Taiwan, medical examinations, requests for and delivery of onboard operating funds, payment of crew advances and allowances during the port stay, and assistance with medical care for injured or ill crew members. These efforts addressed both vessel readiness and personnel needs ahead of departure.

 

▲Pastor Chen leads a gathering for fellowship and prayer, offering blessings for the crew’s safety and a fruitful voyage.

A Send-Off with Blessings for a Safe and Fruitful Voyage

During preparations, the Group invited Pastor Chen, the resident pastor at the Qianzhen Seafarers’ Center, to lead a gathering for fellowship and blessings before departure. Crew members and shoreside colleagues came together in prayer and warm wishes for a safe and fruitful voyage. The gathering also offered crew members from different countries and cultural backgrounds an opportunity to connect before setting sail.

▲The gangway is stowed as the vessel prepares to depart.

On departure day, after completing preparations and departure formalities, WIN RICH NO.707 slowly left Qianzhen Fishing Harbor in Kaohsiung amid the sound of firecrackers and heartfelt wishes from Group employees and business partners, setting course for Papua New Guinea’s waters.

Approximately two months of preparations brought together equipment maintenance, improvements to freezing and catch handling capabilities, crew welfare, logistical support, and safety management. With 34 crew members aboard, WIN RICH NO.707 now begins its next distant-water fishing voyage, supported by professional expertise and teamwork, with hopes for a safe journey and a bountiful return.

▲WIN RICH NO.707 leaves the quay with hopes for a bountiful return.