The vessels will have well capacities of 6 500 m3 and 4 000 m3 and, in addition to serving as ordinary well boats, they will, once delivered, be among the leading treatment assets in the industry.
The Norwegian well boat company, Intership, has ordered two vessels from Turkey´s Sefine Shipyard. The vessels are designed by Salt Ship Design. The shipbuilding contracts with Sefine have been facilitated by shipbroker MIL Shipping. These well boats are specially developed to treat farmed salmon for lice and amoebic gill disease (AGD) using large quantities of fresh water produced onboard.
The vessels will have hybrid propulsion systems, including substantial battery power, which meet the highest environmental standards and are outfitted with cutting edge equipment. Both are due for delivery during Q3 2024, with the larger vessel contracted on a long term basis to a major salmon farming company.
Intership currently has another two vessels under construction at Spain’s Zamakona yard, with the first one due for completion in Q3 2022 and the second in Q2 2023. Both these vessels are also contracted to salmon farmers from delivery.
A NOK 2bn Investment
The two Sefine orders represent an investment of approximately NOK 1.2 billion. Combined with the Zamakona orders, the total investment is close to NOK 2 bn.
“These contracts are the result of a major team effort by the whole organisation, with Joar Gjerde, Håvard Grøntvedt and Benjamin Reite in the lead,” says CEO Ole Peter Brandal. “This team has yet again demonstrated its ability to secure contracts in a highly competitive, international environment.”
Fresh-water pioneer
Since 2016, Intership has taken the lead in developing fresh-water treatment for lice and AGD using a reverse osmosis system. During the past six years, the company has gained extensive operational experience in fresh-water production and fresh-water treatments. The experience has been used to actively develop and improve existing and planned systems. The result is an RO system that provides a low-cost, highly efficient and environmentally friendly method for dealing with the lice and AGD challenges faced by salmon farmers.
COO Kjetil Opshaug is leading the company’s commitment to fresh-water treatments, using fresh water produced onboard. Since the first RO unit was installed on Inter Caledonia in 2016, he and his team have been responsible for several adjustments to, and further developments of, the system for fresh-water production. Intership’s 2bn NOK construction programme represents further development of this technology.
“With our method for fresh-water treatment, we achieve a very good score for all welfare indicators, and the fish resume feeding immediately after treatment,” says Opshaug. “The method is beneficial for fish welfare, environment and costs.”
“Our fleet operates globally and these new investments will affirm our position as a global player with one of the most modern and advanced fleets in the world,” CEO Brandal comments.
Intership
Established in 2014, Intership has experienced solid growth from the start. It offers a modern fleet with innovative technology for sustainable fish treatment and transport. After the delivery of the newbuilds from Sefine, the company’s total fleet capacity will be about 26 200 m3 across 11 well boats. The current construction programme will affirm Intership as one of the leading providers of wellboat services globally. The fleet operates in Norway, Chile, Scotland and on the East and West coasts of Canada.
