NSK Ship Design has designed a battery-hybrid wellboat with a 2,800 cubic metre capacity for Ervik Havfiske and Husøy Fiskeriselskap, which are investing in the sector.
“We have faith in the wellboat market and especially in northern Norway,” Husøy Fiskeriselskap’s Rolf Bjørnar Tøllefsen tells World Fishing & Aquaculture.
He continued, “We see there is a shortage of wellboats in the market and expect growth in the industry. We also want to have more legs to stand on, beyond our current fishing activity, where we will continue to be active.”
The hybrid is in fact the first of three planned wellboats.
“A newbuilding is a big decision, and it was important for us to have an experienced wellboat designer. We look forward to having an efficient and environmentally friendly vessel to offer on the market,” Bjørnar Tøllefsen said.
The first vessel will be built at the Sefine shipyard in Turkey, with delivery in the first half of 2024.
This newbuild is to be equipped with a powerful battery hybrid power and propulsion system, dynamic positioning, and a shore power connection, all of which together with energy recovery and other measures provide significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
“We have built up our expertise in wellboat design over several years together with farmers and vessel operators such as Nordlaks, Intership and Brønnbåt Nord,” NSK Ship Design CEO, Mats Nygaard Johnsen, said.
“The aquaculture industry is very important for NSK Ship Design. Over time, we have built up extensive experience in the design of vessels and aquaculture facilities. The aquaculture industry is willing to invest to make the industry even more sustainable.
“We have great faith that the industry will continue to grow in the future, and especially within offshore farming, if the government continues the work of facilitating aquaculture at sea,” he said.
Nygaard Johnsen added that the company is now working on “several exciting projects” in the offshore farming sector.
“We will take with us the expertise from previous and ongoing aquaculture designs, and especially the Havfarm projects, but also Nordlaks’ Hydra project. We are very much looking forward to the continuation,” he said.
