Bakkafrost orders world's largest-capacity feed barge
GroAqua vessel will hold 1,100 tonnes of feed and have 24 lines
GroAqua and Faroese salmon farmer Bakkafrost have signed an agreement to build the world's largest feed barge in terms of feed storage capacity and the number of feed lines.
The feed barge will hold 1,100 tonnes of feed and will have 24 feed lines, allowing for the simultaneous feeding of 24 pens. The barge will be equipped with GroAqua's newest technology, GroVision, making it automatic and unmanned.
This feed barge is the second of two large feed barges GroAqua is set to build for Bakkafrost at this time.
"We at GroAqua are proud to have made a historic agreement with Bakkafrost to build two large feed barges," said Ólavur Thomsen, who works on this project for GroAqua. "The project is attracting attention worldwide, as these are groundbreaking feed barges in terms of size and onboard technology."
Delivery next summer
GroAqua in Poland is responsible for building the feed barges which are expected to be delivered by next summer.
Large feed barges are the norm in the Faroes, where rough weather and exposed sites mean that it is not always possible to restock them. Larger-capacity barges equipped with remote operation reduce the possibility that fish will run out of feed.
In June, GroAqua delivered a feed barge with a silo capacity of 1,000 tonnes to salmon farmer Mowi Faroes, which is using it at one of its high energy sites. The barge has 16 feed lines.
Aquaculture industry suppliers JT electric and Sterner AquaTech UK rebranded as GroAqua last year, and in January this year it merged with Havida, an innovative aquaculture technology company that holds a strong market position in north and central Norway. GroAqua has its headquarters in the Faroe Islands, along with companies in Poland, Scotland, and Norway, employing a total of 100 people.
