An illustration of the Hordagut, a wellboat that will primarily serve five Norwegian salmon companies in Hordaland. Photo: FMV.

Fish farmers club together for new wellboat

The hull of a wellboat that can carry more than 500 tonnes of live salmon is to be towed to Norway for fitting out after being launched at a shipyard in Turkey.

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The Hordagut has been ordered by Hordalaks AS, a company formed by five fish farming companies that have 25 farming licences in Hordaland between them, and will primarily work for those companies.

Its launch took place at the Sedef hull yard in Turkey. The hull will be towed to the Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted (FMV) yard, south of Bergen, where the fit-out will take place.

Specifications

  • Name: Hordagut"
  • Shipyard: Fitjar Mechanical Workshop
  • Design: HFMV LFC 4700, Heimli and FMV
  • Length: 82.9 metres
  • Width: 18 metres 
  • Shipping company: Hordalaks AS
  • Load volume: 4,700m³
  • Ballast water purification system: PG Flow Solutions
  • Fresh water plant: 4,000m³ / day, Norwater AS
  • Shore system: VARD Electro
  • Battery packs: VARD Electro
  • Wastewater treatment plant: H + H Engineering & Service

Optimal welfare

The vessel’s dimensions are 82.9 x 18 x 8.5 metres, and it has a cargo volume of 4,700m³.

“Great emphasis has been placed on the development of the cargo system to ensure that optimal fish welfare is achieved for the entire range from smolts to harvest fish,” said FMV. 

“In addition, great emphasis has been placed on environmentally friendly solutions.”

NOx reduction

These include a ballast water purification system provided by PG Flow Solutions, and a wastewater treatment plant from H+H Engineering and Service which could result in up to 80% NOx reduction, according to the shipyard.

The Hordagut is also equipped with a hybrid battery system. The shore power system and the battery pack are supplied by VARD Electro.

“The ship can actually be in port without the use of engine power to operate the ship. It is also advantageous for both crew, fish health and the environment in general to use the battery pack at the farm,” said FMV.

Hordalaks AS is owned by fish farmers Blom Fiskeoppdrett AS, Kobbevik & Furuholmen Oppdrett AS, Progress Salmon AS, Fylkesnes Fisk AS and Engesund Fiskeoppdrett AS.

Watch a video of the launch of Hordagut at Sedef in Turkey below.