Tailor-made feed barge for Icelandic salmon farmer Háafell
JT electric vessel design takes icing into account
Northern Iceland salmon farmer Háafell has signed a contract with Faroese company JT electric to deliver a feed barge designed for optimal fuel economy and suitable for use in a remote and exposed area.
A hybrid supply will power all systems onboard, with generators running only two to four hours per day, improving power efficiency, reducing fuel usage and lowering carbon emissions and noise pollution.
“JT electric has a lot of experience in building feed barges, especially in areas with unpredictable weather and challenging seas,” said Háafell chief executive Gauti Geirsson.
Safe and sustainable
“In this project, they have stepped further and taken icing into account to ensure better stability and safety. Furthermore, we are taking big steps toward more sustainable farming as the barge will be hybrid with a powerful battery package, and it will be prepared for shore power. In addition to this, the barge will be prepared for water-borne feeding.”
Designed for the harsh environment in Northern Iceland, the barge can withstand a significant wave height of up to Hs 5.5 metres. The hull has double sides, making it more robust and safer to operate while also reducing condensation on the inner walls.
The barge will be equipped with six feeding lines and a 480-tonne capacity for salmon and five tonnes for lumpfish. All systems on board are fully automated and remotely controlled from shore.
“We are proud of this new design that we have been working on over the past six months,” said JT electric chief executive Suni Justinussen. “Our team has worked closely with Háafell on this barge, designed specifically for remote and exposed sites in Northern Iceland.”
The new feed barge is planned to be delivered in August 2023.
Háafell is a subsidiary of cod fishing, processing, and marketing company Hradfrystihusid-Gunnvor hf, which started fish farming in Seydisfjordur and Alftafjordur around 20 years ago and has switched from cod to salmonids. It plans to produce 7,000 tonnes of fish a year.
JT electric is known for converting cargo vessels into large feed barges used in exposed sites by Faroese salmon farmers Bakkafrost, Hiddenfjord, and Mowi, and has more recently started making new-build barges. The company expanded its presence in Scotland in 2020 with a deal to acquire Inverness firm Sterner AquaTech UK Limited (Sterner UK).
