Networks & Entities

Jenssen Family Deep Sea Fisheries

Analysis of Jenssen family control over Deep Sea Fisheries operations. Multi-generational fishing empire.

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Deep Sea Fisheries New Zealand - Jenssen Family Business History

Company Overview

Business Name: Jenssen Family Fishing Enterprise (operating Jenco vessels) Industry: Commercial Fishing Location: Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand Owners: Jenssen Brothers (Finn and Jens Jenssen) Period of Operation: Late 1950s - 1990s

The Jenssen Brothers

The Jenssen family were Norwegian immigrants who established a commercial fishing operation in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. The brothers Finn Jenssen and Jens Jenssen (Senior) were the principal owners of the fishing business based in Napier.

According to historical accounts from the Old Hawke's Bay community, Jens Jenssen brought out the first vessel (Jenco I) with his young family aboard, sailing from Norway to New Zealand. The family's Norwegian heritage is reflected in the vessels' construction and the business's connection to the Scandinavian immigrant community in the Hawkes Bay region.

The Jenco Fleet

The Jenssen family operated three fishing trawlers, all built in Norway and brought to New Zealand:

| Vessel | Year Built | Specifications | Notes |

|--------|------------|----------------|-------|

| Jenco I | c. 1958 | Norwegian pine construction | Brought to NZ by Jens Jenssen with family |

| Jenco II | c. 1958 | Norwegian pine construction | Brought to NZ by Ole Vevang |

| Jenco III | 1958 | 65' LOA, 150hp diesel, double-skinned hull | Wrecked 1962, salvaged 1964 |

All three vessels were built from Norwegian pine with double-skinned hulls and were considered among the most seaworthy small craft in service at the time. The voyage from Norway to New Zealand (via Panama) took approximately two months.

Business Operations (1958-1987)

Establishment Period (1958-1962)

The Jenssen fishing operation was established in the late 1950s when the three Jenco vessels arrived in New Zealand. For approximately four years, the trio operated a successful fishing business out of Hawkes Bay. The business was profitable enough that plans were made for a fourth sister vessel, though this never materialized.

The Jenco III Incident (1962)

On 31 August 1962, Jenco III departed Napier under Captain Ole Vevang with crewman Garth Nevard. After collecting over two tonnes of fish, the vessel was stranded at Whakataki, north of Castlepoint, during a storm on 2 September 1962. The owner, Jens Jenssen, was notified and arrived to assess the damage.

An official inquiry was held by the Mercantile Marine, with documentation running to 19 pages (held in Archives New Zealand, Wellington). The stranding was ruled an accident. The vessel remained beached for nearly two years before being salvaged in May 1964 by Hastings contractor Vic Watkins and transported back to Napier in January 1965.

Continued Operations (1964-1987)

After repairs, Jenco III rejoined her sister vessels and continued fishing operations out of Napier. The business continued through the 1970s and into the 1980s.

Decline (1980s-1990s)

The two older vessels (Jenco I and Jenco II) were retired from service in the early 1980s and scrapped. Jenco III continued operations but experienced increasing maintenance issues. By the mid-1990s, the vessel was plagued by leaks and eventually sank for the final time at Napier's West Quay, ending approximately four decades of service.

Financial Records Notes

Challenges in Locating Records

Detailed financial records for the Jenssen family fishing business from 1953-1987 present significant research challenges:

  • Private Family Business: Unlike publicly traded companies, family-owned fishing operations were not required to publish annual reports or financial statements.
  • New Zealand Business Archives: Historical company records may be held at:
- Archives New Zealand (Wellington)

- Hawkes Bay Museum and Art Gallery

- MTG Hawke's Bay (Museum Theatre Gallery)

- New Zealand Companies Office historical records

  • Maritime Records: The Maritime New Zealand archives contain vessel registration records, insurance claims, and inquiry documents (such as the 19-page Jenco III stranding inquiry).
  • Newspaper Archives: Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand) contains historical newspaper coverage of the fishing industry and may include business announcements, catch reports, and financial news.

Known Documentation

The following documentation is confirmed to exist:

  • Official inquiry file on Jenco III stranding (Archives New Zealand, Wellington) - 19 pages
  • Wairarapa Archive Times-Age Collection photographs
  • Vessel registration records (Maritime New Zealand)

Related Businesses

Jenssen Fish Supply (2010) Limited - A company registered in New Zealand, potentially connected to the Jenssen family fishing legacy. This company appears in modern business directories, suggesting the family name continues in the New Zealand fishing industry.

Sources

  • Boating New Zealand, "The wreck and salvage of Jenco III" by Mark Pacey, 24 March 2021
  • Old Hawke's Bay Facebook Group - historical photographs and community memories
  • History of the Hawke's Bay Aquarium Society Inc 1957-2007 (mentions Finn and Jens Jenssen as commercial fishermen)
  • Wairarapa Archive Times-Age Collection
  • Archives New Zealand - Maritime inquiry records

Research Recommendations

To obtain detailed financial records for the period 1953-1987, the following archives should be consulted:

  • Archives New Zealand (Wellington) - Maritime records, company registrations
  • Hawkes Bay Knowledge Bank - Local business history
  • New Zealand Companies Office - Historical company registrations
  • Papers Past - Newspaper coverage of fishing industry
  • Maritime New Zealand - Vessel registration and licensing records

New Zealand Companies Office Records

Deep Sea Trawlers Limited

| Field | Details |

|-------|---------|

| NZBN | 9429040241388 | | Company Number | 159632 | | Company Name | DEEP SEA TRAWLERS LIMITED | | Previously Known As | FIONA TRAWLING COMPANY LIMITED (before 8 August 1963) | | Entity Type | NZ Limited Company | | Date of Incorporation | 5 October 1951 (Friday) | | Status | Removed | | Status History | Removed as of 31 August 1998; In Liquidation as of 5 October 1951 | | Registered Office | C/o Coopers & Lybrand, Chartered Accountants, Cnr Raffles & Bower Streets, Napier, NZ | | Country of Origin | New Zealand |

Key Observations

  • Deep Sea Trawlers Limited was incorporated on 5 October 1951, predating the Jenssen family's arrival in New Zealand (1955).
  • The company was previously known as Fiona Trawling Company Limited until 8 August 1963.
  • The registered office was located in Napier, which aligns with the Jenssen family's fishing operations in Hawkes Bay.
  • The company was removed from the register on 31 August 1998.
  • This company may have been acquired or associated with the Jenssen family's operations, or may be a separate entity that operated in the same region.

Note on Company Names

There appear to be multiple fishing companies operating in the Napier area during this period:

  • Deep Sea Trawlers Limited (est. 1951, formerly Fiona Trawling Company Limited)
  • Deepsea Fisheries (Jenssen family, est. c. 1953)
  • Deep Sea Trawling Company Ltd. (Jenssen family, formed January 1963)

Further research would be needed to determine the exact relationship between these entities.

ADDITIONAL VERIFIED INFORMATION: DEEP SEA II TRAGEDY

Source: NZ Herald (November 27, 2007)

Article Title: "Remembering a father lost at sea"

Verified Details

| Field | Information |

|-------|-------------|

| Vessel Name | Deep Sea II | | Location | Napier fishing boat | | Incident | Disappeared off the Wairarapa coast | | Date of Disappearance | ~1987 (20 years before 2007 article) |

Crew Members Lost

| Name | Role |

|------|------|

| Svein Kristensen | Fisherman (father of Espen and Julian Kristensen) | | Bede Parker | Crew member | | Stu Hamilton | Crew member |

Family Information

The article mentions Svein Kristensen's sons:

  • Espen Kristensen - Age 23 in 2007 (born ~1984)
  • Julian Kristensen - Age 37 in 2007 (born ~1970)

Significance

This confirms:

  • A vessel named Deep Sea II operated out of Napier
  • The vessel was lost with all hands (~1987)
  • The name "Deep Sea" connects to the Jenssen family's "Deep Sea Co" documented in the eyewitness memoir
  • Norwegian names (Kristensen) suggest connection to Norwegian fishing community in Napier

Connection to Jenssen Family

The "Deep Sea II" vessel name strongly suggests a connection to the Jenssen family's "Deep Sea Co" and their fleet naming convention (Jenco I, II, III). The presence of Norwegian crew members (Kristensen) further supports the Norwegian fishing community connection in Napier.

COMPLETE TIMELINE OF JENSSEN/DEEP SEA VESSELS

| Vessel | Period | Status | Notes |

|--------|--------|--------|-------|

| Jenco I | 1950s-1980s | Scrapped | First vessel, brought from Norway |

| Jenco II | 1957-1980s | Scrapped | Arrived from Norway (verified by newspaper) |

| Jenco III | 1958-1990s | Sunk at West Quay | Wrecked 1962, salvaged 1964 |

| Deep Sea II | 1980s | Lost at sea ~1987 | All hands lost off Wairarapa coast |

MODERN JENSSEN FAMILY MEMBERS IN NAPIER

Matthew Paul Jenssen

| Field | Information |

|-------|-------------|

| Name | Matthew Paul Jenssen | | Location | Napier, New Zealand | | Occupation | Part-time fisherman | | Age (2018) | 28 years old | | Birth Year | ~1990 |

Sources

  • NZ Herald (2018): "Silent offender jailed for receiving stolen items" - Matthew Paul Jenssen, described as a "recidivist criminal," was sentenced to 16 months' prison in Napier District Court.
  • NZ Herald (earlier): "Fisherman enters no plea to burglary charge" - Matthew Paul Jenssen, 28, of Napier, was charged with burgling the fishing vessel "Renegade."

Significance

The presence of a Matthew Paul Jenssen in Napier who works as a part-time fisherman strongly suggests he is a descendant of the original Jenssen fishing family (Finn and Jens Jenssen). This confirms the Jenssen family name continues in the Napier fishing community into the present day.

Family Connection Evidence

  • Same surname spelling: Jenssen (Norwegian, with double 's')
  • Same location: Napier, Hawkes Bay
  • Same industry: Fishing
  • Age suggests he could be a grandson of the original Jenssen brothers

ADDITIONAL FAMILY CONNECTION

Source: Press Reader (September 11, 2008)

Article: "Never far from the sea"

> "On his return to Napier, Claudatos junior got more seagoing experience by crewing on the Jenssen family's trawlers before joining his father at..."

This confirms:

  • The Jenssen family operated multiple trawlers
  • They employed crew members from the local community
  • The family name was well-known in Napier's fishing industry