Turkish yard to build the world’s largest wellboat
A Norwegian company has ordered what will become the world’s biggest wellboat to meet increasing demand for post-smolt transport.
Seistar AS from Torangsvåg, Norway has contracted a vessel with a hold capacity of 8,000m³ and a deadweight of around 12,000 tonnes.
It has also ordered a second wellboat with a capacity of 2,200m³.
Cemre yard
Both wellboats are designed by Salt Ship Design and will be built at the Cemre yard in Turkey. Delivery is scheduled for 2022/23.
Seistar AS already has a fleet of three wellboats and three stun and bleed vessels.
In a press release, Salt said the new vessels will supplement new and existing customers with new tonnage to cover the increasing demand for treatment- and transport services, especially related to the post-smolt investment in western Norway.
It added that the vessels have several new and exciting design solutions including batteries as energy storage and circular fish tanks.
‘Market is good’
“In aquaculture and fisheries, the market is currently good, and these markets will be very important for Salt in the future,” said the ship designer.
“In addition to design-development, Salt will deliver a complete engineering package to Cemre. This is therefore a very important contract which adds to an order book of 19 vessel designs under construction globally.”
The largest wellboat currently operating is the Ronja Storm, owned by the world’s biggest wellboat company, Sølvtrans. The vessel is on a long-term contract with Huon Aquaculture in Tasmania. It has a hold capacity of 7,450m³.
That is due to be surpassed by the Gåsø Høvding, currently being built Norwegian wellboat operator Frøy Rederi at Turkey’s Sefine shipyard. The vessel will have a capacity of 7,500m³.
