Northline settles

Northline Seafoods has settled a court case in which a contractor claimed it was owed nearly $1.3 million for work performed on Northline's processing barge.

Here's the notice of settlement.

Hannah heads to the bay

Northline Seafoods says its 400-foot processing barge, the Hannah, is on its way to Bristol Bay for its second salmon season.

The barge was cleared to depart Bellingham after its owner posted a special bond to free the vessel from arrest in a court case involving a nearly $1.3 million debt claim.

An update on the Northline barge

It appears the two sides in a lawsuit that resulted in the arrest of the Northline Seafoods processing barge over a debt obligation have reached a deal that could see the vessel's release.

The parties in a joint status report say they've reached an agreement whereby the owners of the vessel would file a special bond of $1,378,000.

The court has entered an order canceling a planned Friday hearing and directing the parties to file papers for the posting of the bond and the release of the vessel from arrest.

Northline barge in jeopardy of arrest

A federal judge today ordered a warrant for the arrest of the Northline Seafoods processing barge due to money owed.

The company is aiming to take the barge to Bristol Bay this summer for its second salmon season, but this could derail those plans.

Right now, the barge is located in Bellingham, Washington.

We first wrote about this situation earlier this month.

Legal trouble for Northline's processing barge

A Washington state company, Leo's Welding and Fabrication, has gone to court seeking to force a U.S. Marshals Service sale of the Northline Seafoods processing barge.

The company, in its five-page lawsuit, says it's owed for work to ready the barge for its 2024 debut in the Bristol Bay salmon fishery.

The suit says nearly $1.3 million is currently owed.

The 2024 season didn't go smoothly for the Northline barge, which was somewhat hobbled by a fire.

Northline is expected to take its barge to Bristol Bay again this summer.

Floaters begin to multiply

Circle's second barge

This past salmon season saw a notable twist in Bristol Bay with the entry of a new floating processor, the Hannah, from Bellingham-based Northline Seafoods.

The processor is the first in an emerging class of freezer barges whose developers say will revolutionize the fishing industry by improving efficiency, fish quality, and prices.

A second company, Circle Seafoods, based in Aberdeen, Washington, has been building its own freezer barge, and this week announced the purchase of a second barge for conversion as a fish processor.

This second barge is "even bigger and badder" than the first, measuring nearly 500 feet long, the company said. The barge currently is named Mineral Creek.

Circle is targeting the 2025 salmon season in Southeast Alaska for its barge debut. The company is inviting seiners to join its efforts.

Northline barge at 'reduced capacity' after fire

Here's a press release with further details.

Northline processing barge heads to Bristol Bay

Here's the press release.

A processing leap for Bristol Bay?

Northline Seafoods today unveiled plans to build a vessel, the Hannah, that the company says will "revolutionize" Bristol Bay salmon processing. This press release lays out more detail on the project, including its financing.