Captain Sig Hansen's Northwestern

Northwestern

More Northwestern

FAN SHOUTOUTS

CAPT. SIG'S CHAT

DECKBOSS CHAT

DECKHAND CHAT

TYPE: 127-foot Marco house forward vessel

POTS: 250

KING CRAB CAPACITY: 251,000 lbs

BUILT: 1977 – Seattle, WA

HOME PORT: Seattle, WA

The Northwestern was built by Sverre Hansen, a pioneer in the Alaskan king crab fishery and the father of Sig, Edgar and Norman. The original boat was 108 feet long and specifically designed to harvest king and tanner crabs in the Bering Sea. A few years later, when the king crab catches collapsed, the Northwestern became one of the first boats to fish for opilio crabs. Throughout the 1980's the Hansens and their boat kept busy fishing during most of the year by following the various crab populations' seasonal patterns. Twice since then the Northwestern has been lengthened to pack more crab and carry more pots.

The boat is ruled by the iron will of Captain Sig, who would rather be obeyed than loved by his crew. Family ties are strong on the Northwestern. Sig often plots his strategic fishing decisions based on the maps of his father, and two of his brothers work on the deck: out-spoken Edgar and quiet Norman. The relationship between Sig and Edgar is especially dynamic, as Sig's fish-at-all-costs mentality appears to have worn his younger brother's body down. But even Sig has his soft side, and occasionally his guard comes down a little. With its forward wheelhouse, rugged crew and gleaming white paint job, the Northwestern is an icon of the Bering fleet.