Accidents in the sea are not that much of rare occurrence as people think they are, which is why ships with low accident rates are amongst some of the best ships in the business. An iconic figure in the world of commercial fishing Sig Hansen stands at the helm of one such ship (“Northwestern” ). He has been commercial fishing in the Bering Sea for more than three decades and is considered one of the most experienced and successful crab fishermen in the world. In this article, we take a closer look at the wiki/bio of Sig Hansen.
Sig Hansen is an American commercial fisherman, reality television personality, producer, and voice actor. He is best known as the captain of the fishing vessel Northwestern on the Discovery Channel series “Deadliest Catch.” In addition to his role on the show, Hansen is also a published author and has written a memoir about his experiences as a fisherman. Through his professional endeavors, Sig Hansen has amassed a net worth of $4.5 Million as of 2023.
Early Life:
Sigurd Jonny “Sig” Hansen was born on the 28th of April 1966 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The oldest child of Snefryd and Sverre Hansen, Sig spent much of his early life with his brothers, Norman and Edgar Hansen in his hometown. The Hansen are the direct descendants of a long lineage of Norwegian ancestry fishermen. Both Sig’s father and grandfather pioneered opilio crab fishing in Alaska. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Sig started working in the family boat at the age of 14. He would often cut short the time to go fishing. Sig graduated from Shoreline High School and following graduation, he spent ten months at the Bering Sea.
Professional Career:
Sig began his professional career as a deckhand on his father’s boat. Over the years, Sig climbed through the ranks and became a relief skipper at the age of 22. His work entailed providing relief to the captain of Northwestern and also working short stints as a captain on other boats of the fleet. Sig got his hands on the wheel of Northwestern when he was 24 years of age. Since then, Sig has captained the ship for over 30 years, making it one of the safest ships on the Bering Sea.
Deadliest Catch:
Due to his growing popularity, Sig Hansen was the first name on the sheet when plans were drawn for the “Deadliest catch,” it is a popular American reality television series that first aired on the Discovery Channel in 2005. The show follows the lives of commercial crab fishermen who work on fishing boats in the Bering Sea, off the coast of Alaska. The show documents the challenges and dangers of working on these fishing boats, including harsh weather conditions, unpredictable ocean currents, and the struggle to catch enough crab to make a profit. Over the years, the series has become popular for its dramatic and intense depiction of life on the high seas.
He joined the cast in 2005 and has been with the series ever since. The Northwestern won successive titles right after joining the series, in 2005 for King Crab and 2006 for Opilio. He managed to win the final derby seasons and took home titles for both the highest poundage caught and the highest dollars earned between the featured boats in the Deadliest Catch. Sig appeared in 241 episodes from 2005-2023.
Deadliest Catch: The Vikings Return:
Alaska state put probation on fishing red king crabs during the winter of 2021/2022 season. It caused a major dilemma among the fisher community and some commercial fishermen put their fishing journey to a halt. In addition to the trouble with quota, Sig wanted to reconnect with his roots and heritage and made the decision to move to Norway. Sig was joined by his daughter Mandy Hansen to charter the Norwegian water. As the pair embarked on the fishing season on the Norweigein high seas it was documented for “Deadliest Catch: The Vikings Return.”
Authorship and more television works:
In addition to his work in the sea, Sig is a published author. He has also written a book (co-written with Mark Sundeen) North By Northwestern: A Seafaring Family on Deadly Alaskan Waters, which reached the bestseller list of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Sig voiced a boat named Crabby in the Disney Pixar film Cars 2. He has also served as a technical advisor for the production of “Deadliest Catch.” Sig was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame in 2014.
Public appearances:
Sig Hansen has made several public appearances over the years, both as a captain and as a celebrity. Some of his notable appearances include:
- Visiting the 7 Seas in Gloucester, Massachusetts, to help raise money for the Plum Cove School in 2008
- Attending the premiere of Cars 2 in Hollywood, California, in 2011
- Being a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2010, where he expressed his interest in joining Dancing with the Stars.
- Being a guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in 2012, where he talked about his book and his show.
- Being a guest on The Adam Carolla Show podcast in 2015, where he discussed his life and career.
- Being a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2020, where he shared some stories and advice from his experience at sea.
Social Media:
Sig Hansen’s social media presence is mainly focused on his Instagram account, where he has over 48,000 followers. His Instagram handle is @northwesternsig, which refers to his boat, the Northwestern. He posts photos and videos of his fishing adventures, his family and friends, his travels, his hobbies, and his show. He also interacts with his fans and fellow fishermen by replying to comments and messages. He sometimes promotes his merchandise or other projects on his Instagram as well. He also has a Facebook page and a Twitter account, but he is less active on those platforms. You can follow him on Instagram to get a glimpse of his life and personality.
Personal Life
Wife and Kids:
Sig Hansen is currently married to June Hansen. While her first name is spelled June, like the month, it’s pronounced: “U nah,” the J is silent. Like many of the Hansen Clan, June has also found her way into the reality television world. She appeared in episodes of Deadliest Catch and its spin-offs. Besides a few pieces of information here and there, not much is known about June. In 2019, she was reported to have been diagnosed with cancer while Sig has faced health problems of his own over the years. In March 2016, he suffered a heart attack and followed by a second heart attack in October 2018 after a severe allergy to an antibiotic. Sig needed medical clearance before joining Deadliest Catch ins season 15.
In the years as a married couple, Sig and June has not given birth to biological children. They adopted both of their daughters Nina and Mandy Hansen after the marriage.
This is not the only time Sig tied the knot. He was previously married to Lisa Eckstrom sometime during the 80s and early 90s. In the years together the pair had a daughter Melissa Eckstrom. Sig has two grandkids Sailor Pederson from his daughter Mandy Hansen (Clark Pederson) and Jackson born on June 18, 2017, to his oldest daughter Nina.
Relationship with Mandy Hansen:
Sig Hansen’s relationship with his daughter, Mandy Hansen, is close and supportive. Mandy is one of Sig’s adopted daughters, along with Nina. She grew up around fishing and learned the ropes from her father. She joined the Northwestern crew as a deckhand in 2014 and became a relief captain in 2019. She is also a mother to a daughter named Sailor, who was born in 2020. Sig is proud of Mandy’s achievements and skills as a fisherman and a leader. He also respects her decisions and supports her dreams. He sometimes gives her advice or guidance, but he also trusts her judgment and abilities. You can see some examples of Sig and Mandy’s relationship on their Instagram pages or on their show, Deadliest Catch, or on their spin-off series, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns.
Physical and Personality Traits:
Sig Hansen has a standing of 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m). He has blue eyes and grey/brown hair. Sig’s zodiac is Aries and according to astrology readings, he is said to possess the personality traits of being fiery, passionate, high energy, domineering, determined, confident, and courageous.
Dressing Style:
Sig Hansen’s dressing style is mostly influenced by his profession as a fisherman and his heritage as a Norwegian. He usually wears practical and comfortable clothes that can withstand the harsh conditions of the sea, such as jackets, sweaters, jeans, boots, and hats. He also likes to wear clothes that feature his boat’s name, Northwestern, or his show’s logo, Deadliest Catch. He often wears blue or black colors that match his eyes and hair. He also accessorizes with sunglasses, a watch, and a ring. Sometimes, he dresses up for special occasions, such as premieres or interviews, where he wears suits, ties, or vests. He also likes to wear clothes that reflect his Norwegian culture, such as sweaters with Nordic patterns or hats with Norwegian flags.
Wiki/Bio facts:
| Full name | Sigurd Jonny Hansen |
| Age | 56 years old |
| Date of Birth | April 28, 1966 |
| Place of Birth | Seattle, Washington, United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | Shoreline High School |
| Profession | TV personality, Commercial Fisherman, Author, Producer, Voice Actor, & Boat Captain |
| Net worth | $4.5 M |
| Gender | Male |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Relationship Status | Committed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | June Hansen |
| Ex-wife | Lisa Eckstrom |
| Kids | Nina Hansen, Mandy Hansen, Mellisa Eckstrom |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Grey/Brown |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) |
| Parents | Sverre and Snefryd Hansen |
| Siblings | Edgar Hansen, Norman Hansen |
| Social Media | Facebook, Instagram |