By Ryan Sands
A Kilkeel boatbuilding company has won a national award in its specialised category for the second year running. G. Smyth Boats recently took home the accolade for the under-15m boat of the year—for the Olja CN52, a 12m Maxus Catamaran—at the Fishing News Awards 2025, having won in the same category last year for a 15m vessel (Inter-Nos PZ46) it had constructed.
The company, which was founded in Annalong in 2009 and relocated to Kilkeel Harbour four years later, has now claimed this award three times. The annual event, organised by the Fishing News newspaper, celebrates the achievements of people, companies, and organisations across the UK and Irish fishing industry.
Judges praised the Olja CN52—built as a prawn creeler for the West Highlands coast—noting that “as expected, the general fit-out of this vessel was superb.” They added, “The accommodation for a vessel of this size is outstanding and clearly designed to make life as comfortable as possible at sea. In addition, this is a case of investing in the market, with the aim of maintaining absolute catch quality for live Scottish langoustine.”
Speaking to the Mourne Observer at G. Smyth Boats’ Kilkeel base, proprietor Gerry Smyth said they were delighted to have taken the award again. “Out of the six boats that were in the category this year, we had two of them, so we had a good chance of winning,” he stated. “It is definitely good to get the award, so we are pleased.”
Read the full story in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
