A cutaway illustration of a floating closed containment tank supplied by Aquafarm Equipment. The tank has an interior diameter of 40 metres, circumference of 126m, and depth of 22m.

Aquafarm Equipment begins setting up in Saudi Arabia

The closed pen maker will manufacture and operate kingfish facility in Red Sea

Gareth Moore Gareth Moore Gareth Moore editor
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Aquafarm Equipment, which makes a GRP (glass reinforced plastic) floating closed containment fish farm enclosure, has announced that the first components for its latest project have arrived in the Port of Neom (formerly Duba port), Saudi Arabia.

“The elements were unloaded last week, and we’re now setting up site offices, fencing the area, and preparing the foundations for assembly,” said project manager Martin Ramstad in the company’s newsletter on LinkedIn.

Ramstad, who will soon travel to Saudi Arabia to oversee operations, added: “If everything runs smoothly, we’ll start lamination within a few weeks.”

40-metre diameter enclosure

The AquaFarm Floating Closed System has an interior diameter of 40 metres, a depth of 22m and a gross volume of 21,000m³. 

Its Neptune 3 model has been used since 2013 by salmon farmer Mowi at Vindsvik, Norway. Its Neptune 4 model is the same size but is built to withstand higher extreme waves of 2 metres, enabling it to be deployed on a wider range of sites. It has been used by SalMar in Norway since 2021.

Its latest iteration offers an upgraded water and oxygen inlet system that it says creates optimal conditions for fish welfare by improving water quality, reducing stress, and promoting healthy growth. An advanced filtration and UV system removes harmful plankton, viruses, and contaminants.

Aquafarm has also developed a bespoke system that it says ensures careful, low-stress harvesting. It is also exploring advanced automatic tank cleaning systems to enhance maintenance and water quality.

Neom is a project in a region bordering the northern tip of the Red Sea. The Neom vision includes a sustainably-powered, high-tech linear city, and multiple regions including a floating industrial complex, global trade hub, and tourist resorts. A large increase in aquaculture production is also part of the plan.

A significant contract

“Neom is a significant international contract where we don’t just deliver: we build and operate a full facility for three years as a proof of concept before handover to (Saudi fish farmer) Topian,” wrote Aquafarm Euipment, which is based in Norway and has registered a subsidiary company in the UK.

“We’re proving that both the technology and the team can perform in extremes – from sub-zero operations to Red Sea heat – and we hope this will open doors across the Red Sea region as well as into Asia,” said Ramstad.

Yellowtail kingfish

The company said that in Neom, Aquafarm Equipment isn’t just delivering a cage, it’s building an entire aquaculture facility. The project includes an onshore base with operations offices, warehouse, power connections, and a feed barge. It will also operate the facility for three years as part of a proof of concept phase before the client, Topian, takes over.

“In Norway, we deliver single Aquafarm units,” said Ramstad. “In Neom, we’re responsible for the full-scale facility, from construction to operation. It’s a big step for us as a company.”

If progress continues according to plan, the first yellowtail kingfish (Seriola) will be stocked by May or early summer 2026, said Aquafarm Equipment, which added that the Neom project marks its first international delivery.

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