Hull of a sight: Ronja Storm arrives in Norway for fit-out
The hull of the Ronja Storm, which is destined to become the world’s biggest wellboat, has arrived at the Havyard shipyard in Norway for fitting out after construction in Turkey.
At 116 metres, the Ronja Storm will be much longer than other wellboats. There are also no other ships in the world that have such a big freshwater production facility. The boat can produce 16.8 million litres of freshwater a day, which Havyard points out is the equivalent of the daily freshwater consumption of 100,000 average Norwegians.
3,300 salmon per minute
The wellboat also has an unrivalled fish tank capacity and capacity for processing and transport of fish. The Ronja Storm will be able to load 1,000 tonnes of fish an hour – equivalent to 3,300 big salmon per minute.
Havyard said the wellboat is also the first to use a direct current (DC) electrical system, which will save fuel and ensure good fish handling.
The vessel is being built for the world’s largest wellboat operator, Sølvtrans, and will go on long-term lease to Tasmanian salmon farmer Huon.
Kjetil Myren, senior designer at Havyard Design & Solution, said: “Ronja Storm is the biggest in the world not only in terms of its actual size. The focus has been on thorough and reliable handling of large amounts of fish, which has required new solutions and equipment to be developed. Clients and end users have challenged us down to the tiniest detail, and the result is that Ronja Storm will be a giant in every way.”
Scarce resource
Myren explained that the fish transport and processing needs in Tasmania require the large dimensions.
“The salmon must be treated and transported many times throughout their life cycle and bathing the fish in freshwater is an effective and environmentally-friendly method,” said the designer.
“Producing our own freshwater makes the treatment more sustainable, as you avoid using natural freshwater, which is a scarce resource, you save time and fuel from not having to fetch it, and you don’t have to filter it. The water is of course reused as well.”
Ronja Storm will be delivered to Sølvtrans in the autumn. The company’s chief executive, Roger Halsebakk, said: “It will be a fantastic addition to Sølvtrans’s fleet. The ship once again confirms that Sølvtrans is at the forefront of technology developments that address quality, animal welfare and environmental considerations in the aquaculture industry.”
