Chile's most advanced wellboat will get a Grip on health challenges
Trident vessel with huge freshwater capacity is officially named in Puerto Montt
Wellboat operator Trident Aqua Services has celebrated the naming of Grip Discovery in Puerto Montt, Chile, together with customer Multi X, one of the country's top three Atlantic salmon producers.
Delivered from Sefine Shipyard in Turkey and designed by Salt Ship Design AS in Norway, the vessel is the most advanced wellboat currently operating in Chile, and has the largest well capacity of 4,000 cubic metres.
Built to support a wide range of aquaculture operations, Grip Discovery combines advanced fish handling systems, high biosecurity standards and substantial freshwater treatment capacity, Trident said in a press release. The vessel introduces a new generation of wellboat technology to the Chilean salmon industry, bringing together large-scale freshwater production, battery-hybrid propulsion and highly efficient treatment systems in a single platform.
Reverse osmosis
The vessel is equipped with a reverse osmosis system capable of producing up to 10,000m3 of freshwater per day, enabling efficient freshwater treatments for biological challenges such as sea lice, amoebic gill disease (AGD) and other gill-related conditions. Its large freshwater production capacity reduces downtime between treatments and supports gentle, effective and natural treatment methods that promote fish welfare. A battery package of approximately 1,000 kWh further contributes to reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions.
The vessel was officially named by its godmother, Macarena Lago, during a ceremony attended by representatives from Trident Aqua Services, Multi X, and partners from across the Chilean aquaculture industry and Norway.
"We are proud to celebrate the naming of Grip Discovery together with Multi X and our partners in Chile," said Arild Aasmyr, chief executive of Trident Aqua Services.
"As the largest wellboat currently operating in Chile, the vessel represents an important milestone both for Trident Aqua Services and for the further development of the Chilean salmon industry.
"Grip Discovery combines nearly a decade of operational experience with freshwater treatment technology with modern fish handling systems, substantial onboard freshwater production and battery-hybrid propulsion. The result is a highly capable and efficient vessel that supports fish welfare, operational performance and sustainability. We are particularly pleased to introduce this vessel together with Multi X, a company that continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to innovation, sustainable growth, and the long-term development of salmon farming in Chile."
Significant step forward
The vessel will operate for Multi X under a long-term agreement.
"Grip Discovery represents an important addition to our operations and a significant step forward in the technologies available to the Chilean salmon industry," said Cristian Swett, chief executive of Multi X.
"Access to modern assets such as Grip Discovery strengthens our ability to continue improving fish health, operational performance and sustainability across our operations."
