Trout farmer to convert supply vessel into wellboat
Norwegian trout producer Firda Seafood Group has bought an oil and gas platform supply vessel (PSV) that is to be converted into a wellboat.
The repurposed vessel will have a well capacity of 5,000m³, and will be equipped with a freshwater production unit, refrigerated seawater for cooling the well volume, negative pressure loading with sorting, as well as modern equipment for fish handling, washing, disinfection and treatment plants. A delousing system will also be installed on the vessel.
The vessel will mainly be used as a tool to improve fish health and delousing but will also be able to be used for sorting and transporting both smolts and harvested fish, Firda said in a press release.
A flexible tool
Norse Shipyard will be responsible for the conversion of the 20-year-old PSV, which has been called the Skandi Foula and the Ex Foula during its oil and gas career, and delivery of the turnkey wellboat to Firda.
The vesse, whichl has been bought from Austevoll shipping company DOF, is 83.7 metres long and has a beam of 19.7 metres. It is expected to be delivered to Firda in the third quarter of next year.
“We are investing in wellboats to take action to further improve fish welfare in the Firda Seafood Group and look forward to having a good and flexible tool for handling our fine fjord trout,” said Firda.
Better working day
“This is a significant investment that will provide better fish welfare and a simpler and better working day for our employees. The investment will contribute to improved resource utilisation, increased food production, and strengthened value creation in the group.
“We look forward to starting the rebuilding and we are now looking for a captain and chief engineer for construction follow-up and operation of the vessel.”
