The Inter Atlantic, a 72-metre wellboat with a reverse osmosis system capable of producing 5,000m³ of fresh water per day, is among the vessels in the fleet of the merged company. It is leased to Mowi for use in Scotland and Canada.

Wellboat companies merged by US investor

Editorial team
Published Modified

Norway-based fish farming service vessel operators AquaShip and Intership are being merged after an investment fund managed by New York-headquartered American Industrial Partners (AIP) became the majority and controlling shareholder of both companies.

AquaShip operates 28 vessels, including 10 wellboats, and Intership has nine wellboats, with two more under construction. The merged company will have nearly 700 employees operating in Chile, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Norway.

The combined company will be led by chief executive Sverre Taknes, formerly of AquaShip, operating from Kristiansund, and executive chairman Ole-Peter Brandal, formerly of Internship, operating from Hareid.

Sold stake

London-based investment firm Alchemy was the largest shareholder in Intership until it sold its entire stake in the transaction.

The combined company will benefit from significant access to capital as a result of the transaction, enabling execution of ambitious growth plans on the back of increasing demand for diversified aqua services from both new and established customers globally, the company said in a press release.

“We are excited to partner with the AquaShip and Intership teams to support the next phase of growth and create a truly differentiated global platform in this rapidly evolving industry,” said AIP partner Alex Schukin.

“We invest in companies that are already leaders in their sectors but still have significant untapped potential. We look forward to enabling the combined company to drive further growth and technology development both organically and acquisitively.”

Ole Peter Brandal, left, and Sverre Taknes will run the new company.
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