Norway-based Hydroniq Coolers has won a deal with Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted to supply its hull-integrated marine cooling system for a new live fish carrier being built for North Salmon Service.
The contract covers delivery of Hydroniq Coolers’ complete ‘Rack’ seawater cooling system, which is integrated into the hull below the vessel’s main engine room. By relocating the cooling infrastructure into the hull, the system frees up valuable machinery space onboard while maintaining efficient cooling performance for engines and auxiliary systems.
“This is a future-oriented live fish carrier design that is flexible and adaptable to alternative energy sources and includes a number of energy-reducing solutions,” said Magnar Kvalheim, sales manager at Hydroniq Coolers. “The latter is a key feature of our Rack seawater cooler too.”
According to Hydroniq Coolers, the Rack system incorporates several energy-saving features, including frequency-operated seawater pumps that reduce power consumption due to lower pressure drop. Additional efficiency measures include a chilled-water element that cuts compressor running time and a heat recovery element enabling surplus heat to be reused onboard.
Kvalheim added that the system has also been designed to simplify maintenance and minimise operational expenditure. “The crew can easily extract the system and clean it themselves,” he said. “No external service technician is required. All such things contribute towards keeping vessel opex as low as possible.”
Hydroniq Coolers will manufacture and assemble the Rack seawater cooling system at its headquarters in Ellingsøy, outside Ålesund, Norway. The company did not disclose the value of the contract.
The newbuild vessel is based on the HAV 595 design and will feature hybrid propulsion technology, including variable-speed generator sets, DC distribution and a large battery pack to improve energy efficiency and operational flexibility. Delivery from Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted is scheduled for 2027.
