The vessels will be delivered during 2024, and will then have a delivery of Optimar’s latest solution for gentle fish handling and blanching of fish - Optitube.

Napier and Optimar both have extensive experience in the stun and bleed market, and Optimar has previously developed several leading solutions for use on board such vessels. Both companies put fish welfare at the top of the agenda, which is reflected in the solutions developed and installed on board.

This delivery will be the first major one for Napier, and Optimar is delighted to land such an agreement.

“Optitube is a technology that we in Napier look forward to using. Optimizing the bleeding process, together with the gentle fish handling and the adaptability on board was decisive for our choice of this system.” Quote Kjetil Tufteland (CEO Napier)

“Optimar is very happy that Napier has chosen our solution - and we are confident that this will ensure good operations, optimal quality and efficiency in the factory on board, as well as the best possible quality of the end product” Quote Håvard Warren (Sales Manager Optimar)

Facts Optitube:
With the Optimar Optitube, the fish is effectively cooled while it bleeds out by being kept in motion with purified seawater. Water is injected into the tube via a series of nozzles which in turn create a circulating water flow that gently pushes the fish forward through the tube and towards the outfeed wheel. This circulation will also create different zones inside the pipe, which together with gate solutions ensure the “first in, first out” principle in the system. These water movements help the fish to bleed out more efficiently, which in turn will help improve the quality of the final product.

The Optitube concept has considerable flexibility and can be configured according to the customer’s needs, ranging from ten to 300 cubic meters in size. The concept can also be adjusted both in terms of dimensions and according to location, outside or inside, for installation both on board and on land.

Example: A pipe of 6 meters with a diameter of 1400 mm will have a capacity of 9.2 cubic meters. Fish/water rotation of 70% and a storage capacity of 6.5 tonnes.

Movement in water and cooling of the fish before and after the fillet cut creates an efficient blanching process. Optitube is also an excellent system for intermediate storage of fish in the slaughter or processing line