Arctic Fish taking stock after blaze at smolt facility
We are happy everyone is safe, says chief executive
The chief executive of Iceland salmon farmer Arctic Fish, Stein Ove Tveiten, has expressed relief that staff and contractors are safe following a fire in an under-construction building at the company’s Arctic Smolt facility yesterday.
Three employees of the contractors required medical assistance for minor injuries.
“We are happy that all employees and hired workers are safe, beyond the shock of this experience,” Tveiten told Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no / LandbasedAQ.
The blaze occurred in a new building at the facility in Tálknafjördur. The fire was fierce at times and there were fears that gas cylinders would explode. The local fire brigade eventually got control of the fire.
Tveiten is relieved that the fire did not cause damage to existing production and completed buildings at the site.
“In relation to the extent of the damage, it is too early to say for sure and we will get more information in the next few days,” he told LandbasedAQ.
Concrete structure
He said that the concrete structure with pipes in the ground is what Arctic Fish, which is majority-owned by Mowi, is most concerned about.
“Steel structure, walls, roof and the equipment installed are more easily replaced.”
What the final consequences of the fire will be, he said, are linked to the extent of the damage and the timeline for repairs.
“For 2023, we have not planned to make much use of the new tanks, so we expect to be able to produce what we have planned in the existing facility anyway,” said Tveiten.
