Bakkafrost names new boat after a fish with all the answers

Bakkafrost Scotland's new multi-million-pound catamaran, the Bradan an Eòlais, has been officially named at a ceremony at Macduff Shipyards in Aberdeenshire.

The 18.5-metre vessel, whose name translates from Gaelic as ‘The Salmon of Knowledge’, will soon join Bakkafrost Scotland’s fleet with the primary task of supporting wellboats across the west coast and islands of Scotland.

The Bradan an Eòlais will be used to prepare pens for freshwater bath treatments and maintaining the health of farmed salmon.

Key role

Bakkafrost Scotland managing director Ian Laister said: “The addition of Bradan an Eòlais to our fleet underlines our commitment to becoming the most sustainable salmon producer in Scotland.

“It will play a key role in supporting the health of our salmon and helping protect the natural environment in which we work.

“Bakkafrost Scotland is also committed to supporting local businesses in Scotland, and the Bradan an Eòlais is the third vessel ordered from the Macduff yard, demonstrating our backing of its capabilities and the 250 skilled workers employed.

£11m spent with Macduff

“Another vessel has been ordered and is due to be delivered next year, bringing our investment with them to over £11 million.”

The workboat has been named after a legendary salmon from Irish and Scottish Gaelic folklore said to grant all the knowledge in the world to those who taste it.

The name was chosen by three-year-old Noah Anderson and dad Billy Anderson, who is manager of Bakkafrost Scotland’s site at Plocropol on the Isle of Harris.

They travelled to Macduff along with Noah’s mum Janice Ann for the naming ceremony.

Billy Anderson said: “Noah just celebrated his third birthday, and I’m not sure anyone that young has had the honour of naming a boat.

“Bakkafrost Scotland had an internal competition to come up with a name, and my wife, who is a fluent Gaelic speaker, suggested a few options. We opted for Bradan an Eòlais as it is a myth we are all familiar with and it’s wonderful to see Gaelic heritage celebrated in this way. It was a fantastic day out and something we will remember for a very long time.”

Stable platform

The Bradan an Eòlais’s catamaran design was selected to provide a stable platform for working in challenging conditions. It is equipped with two heavy lifting cranes and can carry 70 tonnes of deck cargo.

John Watt, managing director at Macduff Shipyards, said: “It is fantastic to hand over another vessel to Bakkafrost Scotland.

“We have established a great working relationship, and it is excellent to see orders from the sector being placed in Scotland, which supports local jobs and in turn the community where we are based.”