Our CSW – Chilled Sea Water Systems are the result of decades of development and experience operating under the demanding conditions of Icelandic waters — and beyond. Designed for those who seek to harness the latest in cooling technology, these top-tier systems help maximize catch value through precise and reliable temperature control.
Chilled Seawater – Ideal for Maintaining Precise Temperatures
Chilled seawater is highly effective in maintaining the correct temperature of the catch throughout all stages of processing — from the moment it comes on board until storage cooling begins.
The surface temperature of the sea is often higher than the temperature at the depth that the catch is comming from
The surface temperature of seawater is often higher than the deeper water the catch comes from. Pumping seawater directly from the surface can therefore speed up the loss of freshness in the catch.
When selecting a seawater cooler, it’s important to consider that seawater temperatures can vary significantly between seasons — a factor that directly impacts the cooling system’s performance.
CSW – Chilled Sea Water Systems are commonly used on board fishing vessels, but also in certain cases for land-based processing facilities.
They are available in a variety of standardized configurations and can also be custom-designed to suit all sizes of fishing vessels and land-based fish processing plants.
Durability and reliability
A service life of up to 25 years can be expected.
When designing and manufacturing seawater coolers at Kæling Víkurafli, only the highest quality components and materials available at any given time are selected. One of the defining features of our seawater coolers is the use of titanium plate heat exchangers, which significantly enhance both performance and durability.
With regular maintenance and periodic upgrades, a service life of up to 25 years — or even longer — can be expected.
Seawater coolers can chill seawater down to as low as -1°C.
After gutting and washing the CSW – Chilled Sea Water Systems can be used to pre-chill the catch down to -1°C before it is transferred to the hold. After pre-chilling, the hold is typically maintained at 0°C.
By cooling the catch immediately in tubs using chilled seawater, the amount of ice needed for the fish is also significantly reduced.
Seawater temperature affects performance
As seawater gets colder, the cooling capacity of seawater coolers increases. This applies in particular to our “max flow” systems, where the system’s software is designed to maintain a stable output temperature regardless of water flow. For this reason, there is a significant difference in performance (flow rate) depending on whether the seawater temperature is 5°C or 20°C.
Option for multiple chilled seawater outlets with different temperatures
CSW – Chilled Sea Water Systems can provide outlets for chilled seawater at different temperatures for each stage of processing. This enables precise cooling throughout the workflow, helping to maximize catch quality. Proper temperature control slows bacterial growth and reduces enzyme activity.
Modern control systems with remote connectivity
Since seawater temperatures can vary significantly between seasons, it is important to automatically control both flow and temperature according to real-time conditions with precision. This is achieved through a modern control system that ensures precise cooling regardless of seawater temperature.
Remote service available
The control systems from Kæling Víkurafli for seawater coolers offer remote connectivity, allowing our service team to access the equipment wherever it is located — as long as there is an internet connection. Remote access is used to monitor system status, perform maintenance, and make fine adjustments when needed.
Option for electrically or hydraulically driven seawater coolers
Traditional seawater coolers are connected to a vessel’s electrical system, but Kæling Víkurafli also offers hydraulically driven models for vessels that are not equipped with a generator. In situations where access to 220V or 400V power is limited, hydraulic technology becomes especially useful. The compressor on the seawater cooler is powered by the vessel’s hydraulic system; the seawater pump requires 24V electricity, and the control panels require 220V.
Conventional seawater coolers consist of a compressor driven by 3-phase electricity, a condenser, a titanium heat exchanger, and control and regulating valves — all mounted on a frame, typically with an integrated control panel (which can also be installed elsewhere on the vessel). These coolers can chill seawater down to as low as -1°C, though they are typically operated at around 0°C.
CSW - Chilled Sea Water Systems and Slurry Ice Machines work well together
CSW – Chilled Sea Water Systems are often used alongside slurry ice machines to improve energy efficiency and overall performance.
Typically, seawater is first chilled to 0°C before being pumped into the slurry ice machine. This allows for faster, higher-volume slurry ice production while using significantly less energy compared to feeding the machine directly with unchilled seawater.
Global sales and service of CSW - Chilled Sea Water Systems
Kæling Víkurafli offers seawater coolers and other refrigeration equipment to customers worldwide. While we hold a strong position in the Icelandic market, our main export destinations include the United States, Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Faroe Islands, and others. We provide all of our international customers with professional support — on site at their facilities, on board their vessels, and through remote service connections.
Our experts provide professional guidance on selection
Our specialists conduct a thorough needs assessment with each customer to ensure the selection of the most suitable solution for their specific requirements.
Many factors influence which equipment is the most appropriate. A targeted needs analysis takes into account variables such as the volume of catch that needs to be cooled over a given period and the seawater temperatures in which the fishing takes place. Different fishing zones and seasonal temperature fluctuations can have a significant impact on these considerations.
Recirculating seawater coolers (RSW) are also available. To achieve even greater energy efficiency, it is possible to use RSW systems, where seawater that has already been used in the processing cycle is filtered, further chilled, and/or mixed with fresh seawater to maintain optimal flow and temperature. Less energy is required to cool water that is already chilled compared to seawater pumped directly from the ocean.
Kæling Víkurafli also offers recirculating seawater coolers (RSW), which you can explore in more detail [here].
Get in touch
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We take pride in delivering outstanding service and only offer high-quality products we trust — products that we know contribute to increased catch value.
We offer a wide range of seawater coolers suitable for vessels of all sizes.
About Kælingu Víkurafl
Kæling Víkurafl ehf. is a dynamic knowledge and service company specializing in temperature control and automation. We design and manufacture equipment and solutions for customers across various industries in Iceland and abroad. Our core focus is on temperature regulation in production and storage areas, as well as comprehensive cooling solutions for catch and products in the fishing and food processing industries — though we also provide services and solutions for other sectors.
We are a certified electrical contracting company and offer comprehensive electrical services to our clients. Customers can rely on us to manage all electrical systems within their operations, whether related to our equipment or not.
Kæling Víkurafl provides wide-ranging support and monitoring services for cooling systems, cooling solutions, and most types of electrical equipment used in industrial environments.
