Cooke Aquaculture in Atlantic Canada has a number of fish farms located in protected waters around the Maritime Provinces, and need to secure transport of supplies and gear between the farms and the shore.
To meet the requirements of serving its farm locations, Cooke Aquaculture went to Poseidon Marine Consultants Ltd to develop a 12 by 6 metre powered barge design. Based on an earlier vessel, three boats are now being built in steel, with an aluminium houses located forward to leave flat decks aft.
The vessel’s 1.4 metre molded depth provides buoyancy for significant loads while maintaining a relatively shallow draft. A Palfinger 18500M crane and two vertical capstans ease cargo and net handling.
A 280hp Cummins QSL9 main engine turning a 32x20-inch four-blade propeller through a ZF305-3 gear with 2.5:1 ratio provides propulsion power. This gives the barge a speed of eight knots.
The engines were supplied and installed by Philip Leblanc Diesel from Nova Scotia who also completed the installation review and sea-trials. A 12.5kW Phasor generator provides auxiliary power.
Tank capacities are for 2300 litres of fuel and 1190 litres of water. The barges are designed to each carry a crew of our and have capacity for a ten-tonne deck cargo.
The first of this four-boat series, KCS Emerald, is due for delivery this month.
