The Guardian of the Salmon (and shipbuilding jobs)
Scotland's Economy Secretary names new Bakkafrost vessel that has helped boat builder continue to invest in workers and apprentices
Scottish Government Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn has officially named a new £3 million vessel for salmon producers Bakkafrost Scotland.
Dìonadair a’ Bhradain, meaning “Guardian of the Salmon”, was built by Macduff Shipyards and will play a key role in fish health and welfare, including essential wellboat operations, on farms across the west coast and islands.
The investment forms part of the Bakkafrost Scotland’s commitment to local sourcing and Scottish manufacturing, helping to build a more resilient supply chain that benefits coastal and island communities.
Dìonadair a’ Bhradain will strengthen the company’s 87-strong fleet, supporting farms and working with local suppliers across Scotland’s coastal and island communities. The launch follows more than £11 million of investment by Bakkafrost Scotland with the Aberdeenshire yard across a series of vessels, supporting around 250 jobs and 40 apprenticeships.
During today’s visit to Macduff Harbour, Flynn met Bakkafrost Scotland’s managing director Ian Laister and marine operations director Iain MacIntyre, and John Watt, managing director of Macduff Shipyards, before officially naming the vessel and touring its facilities.
Bakkafrost Scotland recently announced a further £4.4m package of marine work with Scottish yards, including a new £3.5m contract with Macduff Shipyards for another heavy-lift workboat to support wellboat operations and a barge refurbishment project with Bute Boat Builders.
Flynn said: “A Scottish vessel, built by a Scottish yard for a key Scottish industry, is something that will be celebrated across our nation. Our rural and coastal communities have been at the heart of Scotland’s economy for centuries and investments like this help to ensure that the future is positive for local jobs and local skills.”
Dìonadair a’ Bhradain is an 18.5-metre by 9.6-metre catamaran designed to support fish health and welfare work at sea, while giving farm teams a stable platform in exposed west coast conditions.
Its name was chosen by 11-year-old Greg Sinclair, son of Donnie Sinclair, Bakkafrost Scotland’s head of marine operations. Its sister vessel, Bradan an Eòlais, meaning “Salmon of Knowledge”, entered the fleet last year to support wellboats across the west coast and islands.
The vessels have been built for the practical demands of marine farming, with cranes, winches and crew accommodation to support lifting work, treatment preparation and other tasks across Bakkafrost Scotland’s sites.
Macduff Shipyards, which operates yards in Macduff, Buckie, and Fraserburgh, has a strong track record in designing and fabricating vessels for aquaculture and fishing.
Bakkafrost Scotland MD Ian Laister said: “Dìonadair a’ Bhradain is another major investment in fish health and welfare, giving our marine teams a highly capable vessel built around the realities of working at sea.
“Our long-standing partnership with Macduff Shipyards is built on trust and a shared commitment to quality. Continued investment in Scottish yards is good for our business, good for fish health and welfare, and good for the skilled supply chain and coastal communities that support aquaculture.”
Long-term investment from companies such as Bakkafrost Scotland gives yards like ours the confidence to invest in people, apprenticeships, and capability
Macduff Shipyards MD John Watt said Flynn’s visit was a welcome opportunity to showcase the expertise, innovation, and skilled craftsmanship that goes into designing and building specialist vessels in Macduff.
Close collaboration
“Dìonadair a’ Bhradain reflects the close collaboration we’ve built with Bakkafrost Scotland over many years, delivering a vessel tailored to the practical demands of aquaculture.
“Long-term investment from companies such as Bakkafrost Scotland gives yards like ours the confidence to invest in people, apprenticeships, and capability. It supports highly skilled jobs across the north-east and strengthens Scotland’s marine supply chain.
“We hope today’s visit also highlighted the important contribution Scottish shipbuilding continues to make to coastal communities and the wider economy.”
Recent vessel work linked to Bakkafrost Scotland, Inverlussa Marine Services, Scottish Sea Farms, Mowi Scotland and Cooke Aquaculture underlines the important role salmon farming plays in strengthening Scotland’s marine supply chain, including skilled shipbuilding and design expertise in the north-east.
Opportunities 'far beyond farms'
Tavish Scott, chief executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, said Flynn’s visit to Macduff showed that the Scottish Government Cabinet minister recognised the investment being made by the salmon sector and the skilled jobs it supports.
“That is very welcome and an indication that the new Cabinet Secretary sees his role as encouraging the food and drink sector to grow Scotland’s economy," added Scott.
“Today’s vessel naming is about much more than one boat. It shows how salmon farming creates opportunities far beyond farms and processing sites, sustaining jobs in shipbuilding, marine design, engineering and the wider supply chain. When salmon farming grows, shipyards, suppliers and coastal communities grow with it.
“This is exactly the kind of home-grown economic growth Scotland should be backing, with businesses investing in the skills and jobs that keep our country thriving.”
