Wellboat is a big move for Inverlussa
Fish carrier is new territory for successful service vessels operator
Mull-based salmon farming service vessels operator Inverlussa has taken what managing director Ben Wilson says is a big step forward by acquiring its first wellboat.
The 57-metre vessel, which has a well capacity of 1,050m³ in two 525m³ wells, was purchased on June 3, 2024, and spent the following weeks in drydock at Aas Mek Shipyard in Norway, where it was originally built in 2006.
Several upgrades and modifications have been made, including the enhancement of onboard systems, the addition of extra crew cabins, the installation of a collapsible mast, and a complete paint job to adopt Inverlussa’s red and white livery.
Originally called the Ronja Viking, the wellboat has been re-named the Isaac McKinnon after Wilson's grandfather. It is contracted to Mowi Scotland, which requires wellboats with a shallow draft to move fish to and from its recently established post-smolt operation in Loch Etive. The loch has a high sill at the entrance that reduces depth to just seven metres, and the Isaac McKinnon has a draft of approximately 4.3m.
Must drive forward
“This is a very exciting time for the company. Despite it being a natural progression from our current operations, it is still a big step forward for us,” said Wilson in a press release.
“We want to be a leading supplier to salmon producers in Scotland, and to achieve this we must keep driving forward. We hope to bring our style of customer service and value for money that has proved to be a successful model in the workboat market and take it into the wellboat sector. In addition, we have recruited an experienced team of crew who will be key in delivering a high level of service.
“We have been very busy in the background to build the strong foundations and company structure that is required. This has involved upgrading of the company management systems, shoreside support and certification as well as gaining our ISM (international safety management) accreditations.
“We are delighted to have secured a contract with Mowi Scotland for this vessel. This opportunity marks a significant step in our ongoing relationship with Mowi, and we are eager to continue building on our long-term partnership.”
Inverlussa, which joins a very small number of UK-based wellboat operators, said it had already recruited experienced crew into key roles and upskilled some of its current workforce. In future, it also plans to attract new talent into the industry via its recently announced cadetship programme.
The Isaac McKinnon will have a crew of five, and from next year onwards Inverlussa expects to have a cadet onboard most of the time, taking the complement to six.
Fraser McKenzie, Inverlussa’s crew co-ordinator, said: “Our progression to this size of ship allows us to offer cadetships to help attract and retain young talented individuals into the merchant navy fleet with the specific skills required in the aquaculture sector.”
Continued relationship
Mowi Scotland production director Sean Anderson said: “We are pleased to see a Scottish company invest in its fleet to help supply the aquaculture sector with bespoke vessels well suited for the business and that complement our post-smolt strategy in Loch Etive.
“We are also looking forward to seeing the positive results that stem from Inverlussa’s skills development programme as a result of our continued business relationship.”
The Isaac McKinnon takes the number of vessels in Inverlussa’s fleet to 22. It is the company’s biggest boat by a distance, with the next-largest vessel being the 35m delousing vessel, Camilla Eslea, built for Inverlussa by Nauplius Workboats in the Netherlands and delivered in June 2021.
The Isaac McKinnon is equipped with a Wingtech smolt counter, Aquascan counter for harvest fish. grading tables with Vaki counters, Stranda vacuum pumps, pressure loading and discharge, refrigerated sea water cooling, and moveable bulkheads. It can discharge up to 300 tonnes of smolts per hour.
The wellboat has six ensuite cabins, a sauna, and a separate galley / mess room.
