It's always exciting when Thorverk is getting ready for Asco harvesting season. The crisp spring light (yet still icy cold) shows snowy mountains but ready harvesters and pretty newly repared and painted service ships.
The year 2023 was one of our best years at Thorverk. Fortunately, we achieved our main objective: neither employees nor sub-contractors were injured, and no accidents occurred. That is in line with the motto: Safety first. Much effort is put into continuous training and active participation in preventive safety issues.
We are grateful to the landowners around Breiðafjörður who have negotiated contracts for seaweed harvesting. With contracts in hand the stability, and predictability of operation is guaranteed. With such stability we can offer 25 people continuous work. About Total 16,000 tons were harvested in 2023, a moderate amount.
As usual in Iceland March is dedicated to men's health, male cancer, healthy living, growing beard..
This year the health care tries to reach out with a preventive call and urge men to get on the move and strenghten their health. As a reminder Thorverk bought the annual pair of socks for all! - There is a pun in the title útkall- it can be interpreted as callout or carl (male) out.
This winter has been rather mild in terms of stormy winter weather. Therefore it has been possible to keep up some work at the harbour. The last tasks will be to fill up the new parts at the tip of the bridge toe and lastly to lay asphalt on top.
The road No60 West of Reykholar towards Patreksfjordur has not been upgraded for several decades. But now long strips have been renovated. A new bridge is to be found crossing Þorskafjordur. A new road has been laid down along the beach towards Djúpifjörður and there is still a nother part foreseen that will still shorten the way West and to Isafjörður.
Everything has its time. Now our own Eggert Ólafsson has decided to try something new. He and his family, also Ólafur Eggertsson, have moved to Borgarnes and are trying out new work in the Aluminum smelter plant in Hvalfjörður.
We have hired new staff. This time from Germany, the Ukraina, Latvia and Poland. Natascha, Markus, Yuri, Karlis and Robert.
Contractors are still working on the repair and upgrade of the harbor at Reykhólar. Not many venture out onto the dock to avoid being hit by the contractor's large vehicles and equipment. But our own Unnsteinn Birgisson is particularly good at making drone photos of the activity area.
Since the port of Reykhólar is in a state of limbo, the annual algal meal bulk-freighter cannot reach the dock. Instead, the towers are emptied into meal-containers and transported to Hólmavík (62km away). Considerable swithches and arrangements are needed to get the meal from the towers into these top-less containers to facilitate the annual export this time. Specially lined containers, additional extension of nozzles and augers that pump meal from towers, 4 trucks on non-stop trips, a whole gang of drivers and the harbor scales at Hólmavík are all involved in this extraordinary project.
Easing the trucks towards the factory facility had to be planned in detail. The fence had to be taken down and the gates widened. The containers must not be overfilled either, because then there is a risk that the axle-weight limit on regional roads might be surpassed. These transfers will probably last three full working days.
The project has tested team working abilities, thinking out of the box and has been unusual, challenging and a little exciting all at the same time. When finally all the seaweed meal from last Asco season lands in the ships' hold, all the winter work in Thorverk seems absolutely insignificant!
In a conversation with the drivres they admitted that there are birds with youngs that line the roads as well as rows of ewes and lambs on the roadside. They drive carefully and rather slowly with all this weight.
We welcome still two new memers to our group of summer-staff. Matilde and Michael.
Most likely, they enjoy the first days as they can spend some time outdoors. July is not very warm this year, but sunny. Here pics that show cleaning of the rawmaterial hold - on land, and roads around the industrial plant. No rawmaterial for the moment, and then thorough cleaning between batches is pushed afloat as usual.
