Aker BioMarine has commissioned a new environmentally-friendly krill fishing vessel. The vessel is to be built in Norway by VARD in a contract valued at NoK1 billion.
The new 130 metre Aker BioMarine fishing vessel is intended to operate in Antarctic waters to catch krill.
‘This is the largest single contract VARD has ever received for a fishing vessel, and we are very happy to have entered a shipbuilding contract with them. This will also contribute to securing Norwegian jobs in the future,’ said Aker BioMarine’s Webjørn Eikrem.
“Aker has, since Aker BioMarine was established in 2006, focused on sustainable krill fishing, commented the company’s CEO Matts Johansen. ‘From day one, we have worked with WWF Norway. The krill fishery in the Antarctica is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, and Aker BioMarine hopes to yet again set a new bar for sustainable harvesting with this new vessel. Norwegian skills and new technology will help us reduce our carbon footprint even further with this vessel.’
The new krill vessel is planned to be fitted out with the latest and most advanced eco-friendly technology, incorporating energy efficiency and with a production and processing facility capable of processing raw krill material in the Antarctic.
The contract has a financing clause, with Aker BioMarine seeking finance through the Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee Agency (GIEK).
‘We have a good financing plan and look forward to beginning the application process with GIEK immediately,’ Matts Johansen said.
Construction is planned to begin in May this year – and the vessel is expected to complete at the end of 2018. The total value of the contract is 1 billion NOK, including buyer’s supplies.
According to the plan, the new vessel will be in operation in the Antarctic from the beginning of the 2019 season.
‘This is a very exciting fishery project that we are really looking forward to work with,’ said VARD’s CEO and Executive Director Roy Reite.
‘We have developed a range of innovative vessels together with our good relations in Aker since the 1980s, and also this project is built on good co-operation and complementary expertise within fisheries, ship design and technology.’
