Spanish shipyard wins order for live fish transport vessel

Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Zamakona S.A has received an order from Sølvtrans Holding ASA, Norway, for a 76 m long by 16 m wellboat for delivery in June 2013.  Sølvtrans is the world’s largest transporter of live fish, with a fleet that is mainly on long-term contracts to leading fish farming operations in Norway, Scotland and Canada.

The newbuild at Zamonaka will have a capacity of 3,000 cu.m and is arranged for transporting up to 450 tonnes of live fish. Representing an investment of approx NOK 240 million, it is the first vessel of a new generation of wellboats designed and developed by Sølvtrans in cooperation with Rolls-Royce Marine AS.

The vessel will be state of the art in terms of technology and environmental friendliness solutions, with low fuel consumption and low emissions of Co2 and NOX.

The design also includes improvements in fish welfare, coming from new and improved solutions for fish handling.

The vessel will be fully equipped to transport fish in a closed system that does not discharge to the sea. Control of the water-flow and -circulation in the three equal-capacity cargo compartments has been a priority in designing the vessel, to secure optimal conditions for the fish. The vessel is equipped with advanced filters and systems for collection and destruction of all lice. This will be the first wellboat in the market that filters the water through a 150 my filter. This prevents the penetration of lice and lice eggs, and is thus very important in the combat of salmon lice.

The vessel has accommodations for up to 11 persons in single cabins.

March 15, 2012