Though Mandy Hansen was determined to work on a fishing boat, her father Sig Hansen was initially hesitant, telling PEOPLE, “I did not want her on the boat… You’re out there risking your life”

For as long as Mandy Hansen can remember, she dreamed of one day working on a fishing boat.

“I always wanted to be on the water,” Mandy, 27, exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I tried looking into different areas in the maritime industry, you know, the big boats, and container ships, that was what I was trying to go for but I just realized, that’s just an office job on the water.”

“There’s a lot more thrill in fishing,” she adds. “So, I went right back to it.”

It’s no surprise, given that her father is Captain Sig Hansen, who stars on Deadliest Catch, Discovery’s reality series that follows fishermen in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king-and snow-crab season.

The Hansen family comes from a long line of Norwegian fishermen, but Sig, 56, was hesitant to let his daughter join their ranks.

“I did not want her on the boat,” he says. “I’ve lost so many friends… you can’t even comprehend. You’re out there risking your life.”

Despite Sig’s reservations, Mandy persevered. At age 18, she became one of the youngest women to fish in the Bering Sea during the winter months.

“Fishing is part of my heritage and culture,” says Mandy. “I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me, including my dad.”

Now the father-daughter duo are returning to Norway with hopes of expanding their empire in their own spinoff, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns.

“I’m just lucky that I get to spend the time with my dad and see him out there on the field. A lot of people don’t exactly get to do that. And I’m learning from one of the best,” she says.

While Mandy says the male-dominated industry can come with challenges, she doesn’t let it bother her.

“People doubting you. Or they’re going think that you are silver spoon fed or get off easy, but the fact is that I’m still out there. I’m not on land. I’m not at home,” she says, adding, “I just always try to be the hardest working person in the room and that’s the best I can do.”

Now a new mom — Mandy and her husband of five years, Clark Pederson welcomed daughter Sailor Marie last November — she is looking forward to the day she can show her own daughter the ropes.

“I can’t wait to bring her out there. I don’t know about the Bering Sea, but summertime we’re at Cordova, Valdez area, much calmer,” she says. “I would love to bring her out there with me.”

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Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery.

Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns shows the actual return of Captain Sig Hansen, who heads to Norway. The show has documented the dangerous career of crab fishing ever since its inception in 2005. For over 18 seasons, the show has received numerous awards and accolades.

Captain Sig wanted a change of pace and scenery. This led him to star in the spinoff series, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns. He travels the high waters with his daughter Mandy Hansen by his side. The show follows them to Norway, where their ancestors are located. The family hopes that they will create an even larger empire.

When does Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns premiere?

Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns is on the Fall 2022 lineup for the Discovery Channel. The new season will focus on Mandy, who has to find a way to balance her career with her ever-growing family. She wants to start an empire that she hopes will pass on to the new generation.

It’s important for Mady to keep the legacy going. She hopes that she will become the mom of future fishermen. In the new trailer for the Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns, Mandy says, “We didn’t come here to trade one location for another. We came here to build something bigger.”

The trailer shows the dramatic and tense moments that take place in the series. In the Discovery Channel series, Captain Sig admits that it’s “not about money,” it’s more “about family.” A few years ago, he talked about his daughter taking over as a Captain for Northwestern.
“Oh, she’s fine. She and her husband can take it and run. I don’t care. They are young, they got this, for me, I’m done,” Captain Sig said, per Outsider. “I got a foot out the door. My mentality is different from what it was 20 years ago. You only get so many chances. I’m hoping it makes sense.”

Mandy builds upon her family’s legacy

The Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns star admits that he respects his daughter and her ability to take over the crab business as well as the ship. However, he struggles with the idea of handing it over to her. Sig still loves his job and he can’t imagine not doing it anymore.

“I can’t stop, that’s the problem. All of us are egomaniacs. You want to stop, but the ego portion won’t let me stop. There’s no way in hell,” Sig continued. “See what I mean. You are torn. You know that song ‘Torn Between Two Lovers?’ That’s kind of what is going on here. Really what we need is a shrink. If we could get a goddamn shrink in Dutch Harbor, we’d be better off.”

Sig faced a health setback that forced him to stop working. He suffered from a mild heart attack in his 50s. The Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns cast member said he was hesitant about returning to work. What are your thoughts on the upcoming season? Sound off below in the comment section.
Check back with TV Shows Ace for more news on The Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns.