Norway-based Bjørøya has expanded its fleet with the acquisition of a new AKVA feed barge.
Several of Bjørøya’s Atlantic salmon fishing sites along the Namdal coastline make for challenging conditions with rough weather and high seas all year round. AKVA’s AC 600 PVDB has been developed especially for exposed sites.
“We rely on equipment that will safeguard our employees’ health and safety and provide optimal production results no matter what the weather looks like,” said Bjørøya’s general manager, Per Anton Løfnæs.
The feed barge is designed for a wave height of 5.5 metres, and has dimensions of 44 metres by 12 metres. Each vessel has a double bow and V-shaped hull, said to be more stable than a flat hull.
Environmental factors are important hence Bjørøya has decided to invest in a hybrid solution with the barge equipped with Samsung batteries from TesVolt and generators from Nogva. The battery pack has a capacity of 158 kWh and a life expectancy of 20 years.
The vessel carries 12 feed lines and level sensors in all silos from fellow Norwegian company Meox and the construction work will be carried out by the Estonian shipyard Marketex Marine.
Delivery is expected in September 2019 and the barge will be operational in Bjørøya’s site in Flatanger Havbrukspark, controlling and monitoring the feeding at five different sites.
