Recent deliveries include an ice-capable Russian crab boat and a fisheries patrol vessel for operation off Western Australia. A Norwegian operator has formally named its newest wellboat. Two other Norwegian firms have placed orders for a new wellboats and a feed transport ship.
Trident Aqua Services has formally named its newest wellboat, which is deployed in Chile.
Grip Discovery was built by Sefine Shipyard of Turkey to a design by Norwegian naval architecture firm Salt Ship Design
Designed from the outset for live fish transport, the vessel has a capacity of 4,000 cubic metres. She will be operated in conjunction with Trident’s converted wellboats such as Grip Explorer to maximise transport capacity.
The vessel has also been outfitted to ensure fish health during transit, preserving the quality of catch for as long as possible.
Norwegian feed manufacturer Biomar has selected a vessel design developed by naval architecture firm the Norwegian Ship Design Company (NSD) to serve as the basis for a new feed transport ship.
The vessel will measure approximately 70 metres long and will have a deadweight of around 4,000 tonnes. NSD said high energy efficiency has been a key focus throughout the design process – from hull and propulsion to cargo handling and operations at fish farms and in port.
The vessel's hybrid propulsion system will feature a large battery pack, combining electric and direct diesel-mechanical propulsion to achieve efficient operation across a wide range of operating conditions.
NSD said the DP system has also been selected with particular focus on low energy consumption and reduced noise, factors that are especially important when operating close to fish pens.
A newly delivered patrol vessel will be deployed on fisheries enforcement duties off the northern coast of Western Australia.
Equinox will be based out of Broome and will patrol northern WA waters across the Kimberly region with a focus on commercial and recreational fisheries compliance and marine park management.
The WA Government said the vessel will provide an important additional capability for monitoring remote islands, coastal areas and wildlife populations across the northern portion of the state.
Equinox will also support the WA Government's co-ordinated bird flu response by helping surveillance teams access remote locations, investigate reports, and monitor areas that can be difficult to reach from land.
Norwegian aquaculture support company Frøy Gruppen has placed orders for two wellboats in a series to be built by Nantong Rainbow Offshore and Engineering Equipment (ROC) in China.
The contract with ROC is for firm two wellboats, though options are available for up to four additional vessels. ROC parent company the Rainbow Group said in an exchange filing that, if all options are exercised, the contract will have a total value of between CNY2.8 billion (US$420 million) and CNY 3.3 billion (US$490 million).
The wellboats will be classed by DNV. Each will have an LOA of 87.1 metres, a beam of 20.6 metres, and a live transport capacity of 4,500 cubic metres.
Russian shipbuilder Vostochnaya Verf has handed over a new crab fishing vessel to far east-based seafood company Phoenix.
Itelmen belongs to the Project 03141 series of vessels, which were designed for both crab and shrimp fishing as well as the transport of live catch directly to port. The vessels in the series may also be configured for longline fishing if required.
Construction of the vessel was undertaken in compliance with the Ice2 notation of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.
