Boats: Joint ventures and new builds
Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group and Norway’s Folla Maritime chose the occasion of the Aqua Nor trade show in Trondheim to announce a new joint venture, which the companies say “…marks the next step in a partnership focused on delivering high-quality and sustainable vessel solutions for the aquaculture sector”.
The new venture, the Damen Folla shipyard, will be focused on developing and building vessels for the aquaculture sector. It builds on the strategic relationship, began when Damen became the majority shareholder of Folla Maritime, announced in April this year.
Folla Maritime, the two said in a joint statement, contributes decades of experience in building aluminium workboats, while Damen brings a global network, offshore expertise and a strong track record in delivering larger, steel vessels. Together, the two companies offer an expanded portfolio for the entire aquaculture value chain; from nearshore operations to offshore support.
Jeroen van den Berg, Damen Product Director responsible for aquaculture and fishing, said: “Damen Folla represents a new joint force for sustainable aquaculture solutions. With this joint venture, we unite local know-how with global scale.
“This enables us to provide tailor-made solutions; from agile aluminium workboats to larger service vessels operating in rough offshore conditions.”
Otto Sjølien, CEO at Folla Maritime, added: “Our aluminium boats remain at the core of what we do. Partnering with Damen opens new opportunities for larger, more complex projects, something we’re seeing growing demand for.”
As part of what they say is a joint commitment to innovation and sustainability, the new partners presented a preview of their latest development: the Aquaculture Service Vessel (AQSV) 2813.
Compact yet powerful, this hybrid workboat (2-3 megawatt hours) combines a spacious 160m² deck with three large cranes, making it ideal for a wide range of aquaculture and offshore operations, from net handling and anchor installation to ROV deployment, transport and towing.
With advanced dynamic positioning (DP) capability, a bollard pull of 280kN, and future-proof design, Damen Folla says that the AQSV 2813 sets a new standard for safe, sustainable and versatile service operations at sea. The official launch will follow soon.
Damen Folla has paid special attention to the vessel’s silent crew accommodation, designed to maximise comfort and well-being during extended operations.
Damen previously supplied the Volt Processor, an advanced, multifunctional service vessel, to the Norwegian market. The Landing Utility Vessel (LUV) 2510 series has also proven successful in the UK aquaculture sector. Folla Maritime recently delivered vessels to Nova Sea and Vega Sjøfarm, including hybrid and electric-powered aluminium workboats.
Fleet operator adds two new hybrids
Trident Aqua Services, a leading player in aquaculture maritime support, is continuing its expansion policy by strengthening its fleet with two new hybrid vessels.
It recently contracted for a new live fish carrier and a premium service vessel. Both of these will be powered by the latest battery hybrid technology.
Trident Aqua Services is the combined company created by the merger in 2024 between Intership, Aquaship and the FSV group. It adopted the name Trident in May this year.
Trident Aqua Services now has seven vessels under construction, bringing the total to 69 vessels – a fleet that delivers critical services to fish farmers across the globe.
Trident said the new vessels combine advanced technology with innovative design, meeting the highest requirements for environment, biosecurity and fish welfare in the aquaculture industry.
The investment in battery-hybrid vessels delivers significant emission reductions, while ensuring operational reliability and efficiency.
It is also part of the company’s determination to reduce emissions while enhancing operational efficiency.
The larger new live fish carrier (wellboat), developed by Salt Ship Design, will be built at the Zamakona shipyard in Bilbao, and marks the fourth vessel that Trident has contracted at this Spanish yard.
At the same time, Trident Aqua Services is also contracting a new 27-metre premium service vessel to be built at Sletta Ship Yard in Norway. The vessel is designed by Solstrand Trading, and will be the 17th vessel built by Sletta for Trident.
With a capacity of 4,000 cubic metres, the live fish carrier will be equipped with a state-of-the-art fish-handling system from MMC First Process, a powerful reverse osmosis plant and hybrid propulsion. The contract process was supported by MIL Shipping.
Arild Aasmyr, CEO of Trident Aqua Services, said: “This investment represents not only a significant capacity increase, but also a strengthening of our ability to deliver the very best services to current and future customers worldwide.”
Pedro Garaygordobil, Chairman of Zamakona, added: “Zamakona is proud to strengthen our collaboration with Trident Aqua Services and contribute to the company’s continued growth.”
Advanced new wellboat starts operations in Norway
A new Napier wellboat, recently in from the builders yard in Turkey, has already started working for Mowi.
The vessel, named the Tauroa, was commissioned by shipping company Napier. It can load up to 200 metric tons of salmon per hour and can handle up to 750 tons on board in the RSW (refrigerated sea water) tanks.
The Tauroa arrived by sea from the shipyard in Turkey and to Langevåg in Bømlo, the headquarters of Napier.
Napier said it was a proud day in the shipping company’s 30-year history.
Tauroa is the first of two boats ordered at Turkey’s Sefine Shipyard. Napier described it as a unique ship that sets a new standard for process vessels on a global basis. It is 70 metres long and is, Napier said, the world’s largest and most advanced vessel in its segment.
The vessel has already started operations at Mowi’s new slaughterhouse on Jøsnøya in Hitra municipality, Norway.
Napier Group CEO Kjetil Tufteland said: “We work tirelessly in the pursuit of improvements. Every year we invest significant time and resources in R&D to build knowledge and further develop our existing vessels, as well as to prepare next-generation design concepts.”
Commercial Director Jahn Helge Bjørnestad added: “The position of the process vessel in the value chain is already well established based on its many advantages. With these new vessels we are introducing a significant efficiency improvement, in order to further reduce relative operating costs in large-scale aquaculture.”
Napier AS has 72 employees, and operates four boats and an administration in Langevåg, Bømlo.
The company is growing and has taken over three newbuild projects in recent years – the shipping company also has plans for further expansion. Its vessels operate along the entire Norwegian coast, from Agder in the south to Bodø in the north.
Napier’s boats are named after cities or areas in New Zealand. This is because the founder of Napier, Bernt Arne Eidesvik, had a special connection with the country, and chose to name its first vessel, Tauranga, after a city there.
North Salmon Service commissions wellboat
Norwegian wellboat operator North Salmon Service (NSS) has entered into an agreement with Fitjar Mechanical Workshop for the construction of a new wellboat, type HAV 595, with delivery in Q4 2027. NSS has worked for a long time with Hav Design and Fitjar Mechanical Workshop. The vessel will enter into a long-term agreement with Nova Sea AS and Salten Aqua AS.
NSS said it has had a good collaboration with these customers for a long time, and is grateful that they now want to use the company again to contract a new vessel and continue the good collaboration, says Arnt Erling Paulsen, Managing Director of NSS.
The company also has agreements with a number of other fish farmers in Nordland.
The vessel has a length of 87.4 metres and a width of 22.8 metres and a deadweight of 7,700 tons. The ship’s design draft is 6.7 metres. The vessel will have a well volume of 5,000m³.
NSS and its customers, Nova Sea and Salten Aqua, said they have focused on contracting a vessel that is future-oriented and delivers on the customers’ high demands for biosecurity and fish welfare.
NSS said: “Together with HAV Design, NSS has obtained a ship design that is flexible and adaptable to any new fuel sources.
“At the same time, there has been a great focus on reducing existing fuel consumption.”
Jan Magne Goksøyr, Sales Manager at HAV Design, said: “Together with North Salmon Service, we have developed a wellboat concept that goes through the water as cheaply as possible, with associated emission and cost savings. We expect an emission reduction of 20 to 30% with the measures that have been taken”
FMV Shipyard Director Hugo Strand said: “We look forward to collaborating with North Salmon Service and HAV Design on the design/engineering and construction of an advanced wellboat with large capacity. This is an important contract for us at FMV, and we would like to thank NSS for their trust and for choosing a Norwegian construction yard.”
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