Maritime vessel operator AquaShip/Intership has contracted to buy a new vessel for its fleet.
The new vessel will become the 41st in AquaShip’s fleet and will have a carrying capacity of 4,000 cubic meters. The battery-hybrid wellboat will be built at the Zamanoka shipyard in Bilbao, Spain, and is set to be equipped with technical solutions for gentle and efficient fish handling and technology to reduce emissions.
“We have a clear growth strategy both in Norway and internationally. We see and hear what our customers need, and we invest in boats that meet both today's and tomorrow's demands,” AquaShip/Intership CEO Ole Peter Brandal. “There are new and ever-increasing requirements for fish health, fish welfare, and environmental and climate emissions. I am proud that we are investing in the best wellboats on the market that deliver on these aspects."
The new vessel will also feature a reverse osmosis plant with a production capacity of 10,000-cubic-meters per day, the company said.
"This boat will be a fantastic addition to what is already one of the world's most modern fleets," Brandal said.
Separately, AquaShip/Intership has picked Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) to deliver a new deck-based battery system for its Grip Explorer wellboat, which the company said is currently being converted from an offshore supply vessel to a live fish carrier with a 3,500-cubic-meter capacity.
According to NES, the new battery will be contain a Quest battery charger with a 1,250 kW capacity, a 994 kWh battery package, control systems, a transformer, and an upgrade of the current safety system.
“We have delivered this type of containerized energy storage system to a number of offshore vessels, but this is the first time we are installing it onboard a live fish carrier,” NES Managing Director Siv Remøy-Vangen said. “It reflects the aquaculture industry’s increased focus on energy-efficient marine operations as an enabler to reduce both operating costs and emissions.”
NES said it will deliver the equipment to AquaShip/Intership ;ater in 2024, and plans to manage the project from its headquarters in Bergen, Norway.
“We are confident that installing a battery package from NES will be a success. It will result in reduced emissions, higher operational reliability and improved on board working conditions for our crew,” AquaShip/Intership CEO Chief Operation Officer Nils Otterlei and Technical Manager Stian Førde said. “We have no doubt that we have teamed up with the right partner for this project.”
AquaShip/Intership was created in January after American Industrial Partners Capital Fund became the majority and controlling stakeholder in both companies. The company provides maritime services to leading aquaculture companies in Norway via its fleet of wellboats, support vessels, harvesting vessels, feed boats, and service boats.
