With two cargo wells having a total volume of 2750 cubic metres, the recently delivered 'Ro Fjord' is the largest live-transport well-boat in the world. The vessel has built-in extra precautionary measures to safeguard Norwegian coastal waters.
A major concern in moving live fish from hatchery to farm or from the farm to a processor by boat has been the danger of transmission of disease or sea lice.
A 50-micron filtration system with UV radiation treats shipping water prior to its return to the sea. MMC Tendos in Fosnavåg supplied much of the boat's state of the art fish-handling system. It consists of vacuum pump for live fish, fish counter, a refrigerated saltwater system, tracking and monitoring system, equipment for the addition of oxygen plus the UV filter for the return-water. A tank cleaning system was supplied by Redox.
All of these systems require significant auxiliary power over and above that normally found on a 72 by 66.6-metre vessel, so in addition to the MaK 6M25 main engine, the 'Ro Fjord' is fitted with three Cummins-powered auxiliaries. The two Cummins KTA38DM1 provide power for a wide range of services including the steering gear and two tunnel thrusters.
The 'Ro Fjord' was delivered to her owners, Rostein AS, at the end of 2009. The hull was built in Poland, but finishing and outfitting were done at the shipyard of Larsnes Mek, Verksted to a design by Skipskompetanse AS.
It is anticipated that the boat will take about 400 tons of live fish, according to general manager of Rostein, Odd Einar Sandøy. The cost of the complete vessel for Rostein AS is estimated to be about NOK180 million (US$30 million).
For more information contact:
Cummins Marine
Oslo, Norway
