What were the specifications of factory whaling ship FF Balaena. Sister was Southern Harvester and both part Hector Whaling Co Limited?

The FF Balaena and her sister ship Southern Harvester were two of the largest and most advanced factory whaling ships ever built. They were both built in 1956 by Götaverken in Gothenburg, Sweden, for the Hector Whaling Company Limited of Cape Town, South Africa.

The FF Balaena was 208 meters (682 feet) long and 26 meters (85 feet) wide, with a gross tonnage of 20,320 tons. She had a crew of 450 and could process up to 60 whales per day. She was equipped with a slipway on the stern, which allowed whales to be hauled aboard and processed quickly and efficiently. The ship also had a refrigeration plant, which allowed the meat and oil from the whales to be preserved for later sale.

The FF Balaena was one of the most successful factory whaling ships ever built. She caught over 100,000 whales during her career, which lasted from 1956 to 1976. She was sold for scrap in 1980.