1995 Custom Steel Albacore Tuna Vessel Boat in Bellingham, WA 98225 US

1995 Johnson 99' Steel Albacore Tuna Vessel - F/V DALENA

Bellingham, Washington
Commercial Tuna Boat • Longliner • Tender
Approximately 100-Ton Frozen-Fish Capacity • 28,000-Gallon Fuel Capacity • Blast Freezing • Bow Thruster

The F/V DALENA is a purpose-built, all-steel commercial fishing vessel constructed in 1995 by Johnson Shipbuilding & Repair in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Designed specifically for the offshore Albacore fishery, DALENA has remained continuously active in commercial fishing service since construction and has a proven operating history in both the North and South Pacific.

The vessel completed a successful 2025 season and is being offered because the longtime owner is ready to retire. The current owner has operated the vessel for approximately 20 years, and available vessel and fishing history can be transferred to the purchaser as needed.

DALENA is configured as a combination commercial fishing vessel suitable for Albacore trolling, longlining, tender operations, and other offshore fisheries. Her substantial fuel capacity, large blast-frozen product capacity, heavy-duty deck machinery, multiple generator systems, hydraulic bow thruster, crew accommodations, and long-range offshore configuration make her a serious production platform rather than a vessel requiring conversion from another trade.

An out-of-water marine survey was completed in June 2024 at Port Townsend Shipyard. The survey and supporting vessel records are available to qualified buyers upon request.

Principal Particulars

• Vessel Name: F/V DALENA
• Official Number: 1038177
• Year Built: 1995
• Builder: Johnson Shipbuilding & Repair - Bayou La Batre, Alabama
• Construction: Welded steel
• Vessel Type: Commercial fishing vessel
• Current Configuration: Albacore tuna trolling vessel
• Additional Uses: Longliner, tender, combination fisheries platform
• Home Port: Bellingham, Washington
• Registry: United States
• Length Overall: 99'
• Registered Length: 89.4'
• Breadth: 24'
• Hull Depth: 13'
• Reported Draft: Approximately 12'
• Gross Registered Tonnage: 86 GRT
• Net Registered Tonnage: 74 NRT
• Typical Crew: Three
• Crew Accommodations: Up to six
• Operating Waters: Pacific Ocean, West Coast of the United States, Washington, Oregon and Alaska waters

Hull and Construction

DALENA is constructed with a welded mild-steel hull and is configured with a raked stem, bulbous bow, boxed keel, double hard chine and transom stern.

Construction details recorded in the 2024 survey include:

• 5/16-inch mild-steel hull plating
• 1/2-inch bottom plating
• 1/4-inch steel angle framing on approximately 18-inch centers
• 1/4-inch mild-steel deck plating
• Five welded-steel transverse bulkheads
• Heavy external half-round hull guard extending aft and around the stern
• Concrete ballast
• Raised forecastle
• Large open commercial working deck
• Partially sheltered deck arrangement
• Raised steel bulwarks
• Stainless-steel bulwark caps
• Elevated pipe railings with safety netting
• Non-skid deck coatings
• Rubber working-deck sheeting
• Two centerline aluminum hold hatches with raised sills and watertight inserts
• Enclosed foredeck and forecastle access
• Two-level deckhouse positioned aft

The below-deck arrangement is divided into five principal compartments, including the forecastle, product-hold areas, machinery space, steering compartment and aft tankage area.

Fish Holds and Freezing System

DALENA is configured to carry approximately 200,000 pounds, or roughly 100 tons, of hung blast-frozen fish.

The freezing arrangement consists of separate systems to provide operational flexibility and redundancy:

• Main blast-freezing system serving the primary fish hold
• Two Carrier 5F60 compressors, each feeding a blast unit in the main hold
• Separate Bitzer compressor serving a blast unit in the aft wells
• One approximately 30-ton blast-freezer system
• One approximately 3-ton forward blast-freezer system
• Six fish wells
• Four wells currently tanked
• Insulated product-hold construction
• Fiberglass-sealed hold interiors
• Floodable hold arrangement
• Watertight deck-hatch access
• 4-inch, 7.5-hp AC-powered brine pump
• Hold dewatering pump

The primary hold contains stainless-steel cooling coils that may provide a basis for future conversion to an RSW system, subject to engineering review and purchaser requirements. The vessel is presently offered as a blast-freezer vessel and does not currently operate with RSW.

Main Engine and Propulsion

Power is provided by a single Caterpillar 3412C, twelve-cylinder marine diesel connected to a Twin Disc reduction gear and large-diameter stainless-steel propeller.

Main Engine

• Manufacturer: Caterpillar
• Model: 3412C
• Configuration: Twelve-cylinder diesel
• Rated Output Recorded in Survey: 650 hp at 1,800 rpm
• Reported Rebuild: 2010
• Hours at June 2024 Survey: Approximately 22,872
• Starting System: 12 VDC
• Cooling: Treated freshwater through grid cooler with expansion tank
• Exhaust: Vertical dry exhaust with lagging
• Fuel Filtration: Racor filtration system

Reduction Gear and Running Gear

• Reduction Gear: Twin Disc MG-516
• Reduction Ratio: 4.5:1
• Gear Rebuild: Reported 2010
• Propeller Shaft: 4.5-inch stainless steel
• Propeller: 68-inch x 62-inch, right-hand, four-blade stainless steel
• Intermediate Bearing: Babbitt
• Stern Bearing: Rubber cutlass
• Stuffing Box: Conventional packing arrangement
• Rudder: Heavy 2.5-inch steel plate construction with horizontal stiffeners and steering wedges
• Rudder Stock: 2.5-inch stainless steel
• Steering: Hydraulic-assisted steering
• Autopilot: ComNav 2001 with remote
• Propulsion Control: Morse control

Bow Thruster and Hydraulic Systems

DALENA is equipped with a 14-inch hydraulic bow thruster for maneuvering in harbors, confined spaces and during tender or fishing operations.

A dedicated Mazda four-cylinder diesel powers the hydraulic system used for the bow thruster and anchor winch.

Additional hydraulic equipment includes:

• 400-gallon hydraulic-oil capacity
• 30-hp AC motor driving a Vickers 25/35 hydraulic pump
• Hydraulic supply for crab block, boom winches and anchor winch
• 7.5-hp AC motor driving a Vickers 35/65 hydraulic pump
• Separate hydraulic reservoir serving tuna pullers and aft boom winch
• Two hydraulic line haulers
• Hydraulic hook-line winch
• Hydraulic boom topping winch
• Hydraulic drum anchor winch
• Custom fish slide
• Starboard hauling station
• Hauling chutes
• Electronic fish counter
• Port and starboard line-hauling capability

Generators and Auxiliary Machinery

The vessel carries multiple generator and auxiliary systems, providing substantial power capacity for refrigeration, hydraulics, vessel services and domestic loads.

Starboard Ship-Service Generator

• Caterpillar 3304 four-cylinder diesel
• Approximately 100 hp at 1,800 rpm
• Rebuilt in 2023
• Approximately 474 hours at the 2024 survey
• Marathon 65 kW, 120/240 VAC, three-phase generator
• Keel-cooled with freshwater expansion tank
• Racor fuel filtration
• 80-amp charging alternator

Aft Ship-Service Generator

• Caterpillar 3304 four-cylinder diesel
• Approximately 100 hp at 1,800 rpm
• Rebuilt in 2012
• Approximately 2,162.8 hours at the 2024 survey
• Marathon 65 kW, 120/240 VAC, three-phase generator
• Keel-cooled with freshwater expansion tank
• Racor fuel filtration
• 80-amp charging alternator

House Generator

• Caterpillar 3304 four-cylinder diesel
• Approximately 100 hp at 1,800 rpm
• Rebuilt in 2012
• Magna Plus 20 kW, 120/208 VAC, three-phase generator
• Keel-cooled
• Racor fuel filtration

Dedicated Hydraulic Auxiliary

• Mazda four-cylinder diesel engine
• Drives hydraulic pump for bow thruster and anchor winch

The owner also reports an Isuzu 20 kW generator installation. Generator model, output and current configuration should be confirmed directly aboard the vessel.

Fuel, Water and Tankage

DALENA is set up for extended offshore operation with substantial fuel, potable-water, hydraulic-oil and lube-oil capacities.

Fuel Capacity

Approximately 28,000 U.S. gallons of diesel in seven integral welded-steel tanks:

• Bow tank: approximately 6,300 gallons
• Port and starboard forepeak tanks: approximately 3,750 gallons each
• Port and starboard engine-room tanks: approximately 3,500 gallons each
• Port and starboard lazarette tanks: approximately 2,520 gallons each
• Deck standpipe fills and soundings
• Central fuel manifold and tank shutoff system
• Natural tank ventilation
• Racor inline filtration

The owner reports that additional well capacity could potentially be configured to carry approximately 8,000 additional gallons, depending upon the purchaser's intended use and any necessary engineering or regulatory approval.

Additional Capacities

• Potable Water: Approximately 1,200 gallons
• Watermaker: Approximately 750 gallons per day
• Hot Water: Approximately 40 gallons
• Hydraulic Oil: Approximately 400 gallons
• Clean Lube Oil: Approximately 500 gallons
• Waste Lube Oil: Approximately 400 gallons
• Black Water: Approximately 28 gallons
• Grey Water: Direct overboard configuration

A dedicated AC-powered oil-change pump is installed for machinery servicing.

Commercial Fishing Deck and Rigging

The working deck is arranged specifically for offshore commercial fishing operations and includes:

• Large open working deck
• Partial port-side bait shed
• Mounted bait chopper
• Bait-storage area
• Starboard hauling station
• Port and starboard hydraulic line haulers
• Hauling chutes
• Electronic counter unit
• Custom fish slide
• Four outrigger poles with cross-stays
• Steel foremast
• Steel aft mast and antenna structure
• Fixed A-frame mast bracing
• Steel picking boom
• Hydraulic hook-line winch
• Hydraulic topping winch
• Manual boom vanging
• Forward hydraulic drum winch
• Heavy-duty ground tackle
• LED working-deck lights
• Raised bulwarks
• Stainless-steel bulwark caps
• Pipe safety rails and netting
• Non-skid deck surfaces
• Rubber deck protection
• Large watertight product-hold hatches

The deck arrangement provides the space, machinery and fish-handling infrastructure expected aboard a dedicated large-scale Albacore vessel.

Ground Tackle

• Hydraulic drum anchor winch
• Friction brake
• Approximately 150-pound Admiralty-style anchor
• 3/4-inch stud-link chain
• 3/4-inch wire rode
• Steel bow roller
• Steel bow pulpit

Pilothouse and Electronics

The raised pilothouse provides wide visibility through eighteen Lexan windows mounted in compound-bolted frames. A full-width forward console houses vessel controls, engine instrumentation, navigation systems, communications equipment and alarm panels.

Reported and surveyed electronics include:

• Furuno CH-250 sonar
• Furuno FCV-292 fathometer
• Furuno FCV-581 fathometer
• Furuno radar
• Two Furuno GP-30 WAAS GPS navigators
• Furuno SC-502 satellite compass
• ComNav 2001 autopilot with remote
• TimeZero navigation and plotting software
• Sitex AIS/VHF
• Standard Horizon VHF
• Icom VHF
• Icom M-422 marine radio
• Mitsubishi TracPhone
• Starlink satellite internet
• Hewlett-Packard navigation computer
• Magnetic compass
• Ship's clock
• Ship's barometer
• Pneumatic horn
• Engine and machinery alarm panels
• Bilge alarm monitoring
• Engine-room heat sensors
• Electrical heating and cooling

Electronics can change during the vessel's working life, so all installed equipment and current operational status should be verified during inspection.

Electrical Systems

DALENA carries 12-volt DC, 24-volt DC and three-phase AC electrical systems.

12-Volt DC

• Four heavy-duty 8D batteries
• Battery disconnect system
• Circuit-breaker and fuse protection
• Lewco 12/40 charger

24-Volt DC

• Two heavy-duty 8D batteries
• Engine-room and pilothouse panels
• Charles battery chargers
• Circuit-breaker and fuse protection

AC System

• 120/240 VAC, three-phase distribution
• Engine-room, cabin and forecastle panels
• Generator and shore-power supply
• Interlocked panel arrangement
• Vessel bonding and anode protection

Pumps and Vessel Systems

• Automatic 12 VDC bilge pump
• 110 VAC submersible bilge/deck pump
• Two 1.5-inch, 3-hp AC freshwater pumps
• Automatic hold pump
• 4-inch, 7.5-hp AC brine pump
• Pressurized domestic-water system
• Hot-water tank
• 750-gallon-per-day desalination system
• Oil-transfer and oil-change system
• Main-engine grid cooling
• Auxiliary-engine keel cooling

Accommodations

The vessel provides accommodations for up to six crew members, with the survey identifying a typical operating crew of three.

Interior features include:

• Captain's stateroom
• Separate captain's head and shower arrangement
• Four additional bunks in the forecastle
• Additional stacked berths
• Crew storage
• Hanging lockers
• Enclosed marine head
• Shower
• Vanity and sink
• Full galley
• Dinette with wraparound upholstered seating
• Under-seat storage
• Domestic refrigerator/freezer
• Two chest freezers
• Microwave
• Washer and dryer
• Food and dry-goods storage
• Electrical heating and cooling
• Additional navigation and entertainment equipment in the captain's quarters

Safety Equipment

Safety equipment recorded at the 2024 survey included:

• Six-person Elliott SOLAS A life raft
• ACR 406 MHz EPIRB
• Four adult USCG/SOLAS survival suits
• Six assorted life jackets
• Three 30-inch ring buoys
• SOLAS flares
• Ship's medical kit
• Pneumatic horn and hailer
• Brass bell
• Navigation lights
• Day shapes
• Multiple dry-chemical fire extinguishers
• Engine-room CO₂ extinguisher
• Audible and visual machinery alarms
• Main-engine oil-pressure, temperature and coolant-level alarms
• Automatic auxiliary-engine shutdown protection
• Engine-room and lazarette bilge alarms
• Engine-room heat sensors

Inspection and service dates for safety equipment should be updated or verified as part of the purchaser's pre-closing inspection.

Operational History

DALENA was built specifically for offshore Albacore fishing and has reportedly remained continuously engaged in the fishery since new. The vessel has worked North and South Pacific fisheries and completed a successful 2025 season.

Additional operating history includes:

• Approximately 20 years under the current ownership
• Approximately 20 years of pool-insurance history
• Established fishing and vessel records
• History available for transfer to the new owner as applicable
• Purpose-built commercial layout
• Proven blast-frozen fish production
• Long-range fuel capacity
• Offshore crew accommodations
• Multiple independent power-generation systems

The owner's reason for selling is retirement.

Highlights

• Purpose-built offshore Albacore vessel
• Approximately 100-ton hung blast-frozen fish capacity
• Two primary Carrier compressor systems
• Separate Bitzer-powered aft-well blast system
• Stainless-steel hold coils with potential RSW-conversion value
• Approximately 28,000 gallons of diesel capacity
• Potential for approximately 8,000 gallons of additional well tankage
• Caterpillar 3412C main engine
• Twin Disc MG-516 reduction gear
• 68 x 62 four-blade stainless-steel propeller
• 14-inch hydraulic bow thruster
• Multiple Caterpillar-powered generator systems
• Dedicated hydraulic auxiliary engine
• Two hydraulic line haulers
• Commercial tuna rigging and outriggers
• Furuno sonar and fishing electronics
• TimeZero plotting software
• Starlink
• 1,200 gallons of potable water
• 750-gallon-per-day watermaker
• Accommodations for six
• Full galley, washer and dryer
• June 2024 out-of-water survey
• Successful 2025 fishing season
• Longtime owner retiring

Qualified commercial buyers are invited to inquire for the complete equipment inventory, survey documentation, additional photographs, machinery information and available operating history.