Icelandic fish farmer Háafell went to the other side of the world to add a well boat to its fleet.
The company’s older boat has served Háafell well but no longer has the capacity to meet the company’s needs around its activities in the Ísafjörður Deep in the north-west of Iceland.
The new vessel has a 650 cubic metre capacity in its wells, more than double that of the older boat, plus it can operate with a closed system. This enables water to be recirculated and re-oxygenated. In addition, this new vessel is outfitted with a counters and graders, as well as a ozone disinfection system.
‘We are systematically building up Háafell’s infrastructure. We have been involved in significant development at Nauteyri to become slef-supporting in smolt production and over recent years we have built up our own fleet of service vessels and feed barges. Now we have invested in a vessel that can be used across production, in smolt transport, coping with salmon lice, and taking fish to slaughter,’ said Einar Valur Kristjánsson, chairman of the Háafell board.
Háafell’s new well boat has been acquired from Chilean company Friosur and the delivery trip to Iceland is expected to take around 45 days, via the Panama canal, with an estimated arrival in Reykjavík in late May to join the Icelandic registry. The new vessel is expected to be able to carry up to 75 tonnes of fish to be slaugtered, or 20 tonnes of smolts.
