In Hermes we prioritise quality, safety and the environment – in our products, vessels and crews. Hermes is a traditional and forward-looking fishing boat owner and is perhaps a bit out of the ordinary. We aim to be an open and fully transparent organisation. Among other things this means that everyone must be able to follow the products all the way from catch to consumer.

The company’s annual turnover is around NOK 180 million and it employs 55 full time staff. 40 employees work two 20-man shifts on board, including four apprentices, while five members of staff carry out administration ashore. Hermes AS today is growing company, whose ongoing goal is to run a safe and quality-assured fishery. The company’s main focus is on top quality and safety, as regards products, employees, jobs and the vessel.

As it stands today, Hermes AS is a young, forward-looking and modern company. We also have a sound basis of experience and our aim is always to build on this accumulated expertise. Perhaps we may also be perceived as a bit out of the ordinary.

M/Tr Hermes is a modern freeze trawler, not just in respect of catch and production but also as far as the crew’s safety and comfort are concerned.

The history of Hermes goes right back to 1917, when Nils Skandfer – better known as Colin Archer’s apprentice – built the vessel Hermes II. The boat was immediately put to work fishing and carrying freight, mainly in Nord-Troms and Finnmark, by merchant Ingebrigtsen of Alta. Hermes II was then bought by Martin Andersen in 1952.

In 1967 Jan Arne Lerbukt, Martin Andersen’s son, gradually took over the running of the vessel, which continued to be used for fishing and cargo. In 1982, Lerbukt bought the vessel Snorre to continue fishing for prawns and capelin in the Barents Sea and off Svalbard. The company Main Food AS was founded in 1987 and in 1990 Snorre received a cod trawling permit.

In 2006 Main Food bought one of Norway’s most modern fishing vessels – Tromsland – which was to carry on the old traditions under the name of Hermes. The vessel was bought in cooperation with Jakobsen og Sønner AS and Grimsholm AS. Tromsland AS continued to participate in ownership with a smaller shareholding. At the same time the shipping company changed its name from Main Food AS to Hermes AS.