A new GBP 6 million (USD 8.3 million, EUR 7 million) multi-purpose service vessel has been leased by salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms from Mull-based Inverlussa Marine Services.
Designed by Macduff Ship Design in partnership with Inverlussa and Scottish Sea Farms, the Kallista Helen is expected to enable the salmon producer to intervene earlier with regards to sea lice control, helping safeguard farmed fish health.
Twenty-six-meter-long Kallista Helen will be fitted with a GBP 2.5 million (USD 3.5 million, EUR 2.9 million) Thermolicer, designed and engineered by ScaleAQ in Norway in partnership with ScaleAQ UK.
Scottish Sea Farms said the system is the first of its kind to be constructed in Scotland. It includes:
- A simpler, straighter pipe layout creating a gentler experience for the fish;
- A wider-than-standard pipe with a 600mm diameter to ensure a smoother journey through the system;
- Increased capacity of up to 120 metric tons (MT) per hour;
- 150-micron filtration to separate and collect the dislodged sea lice for removal from the marine environment;
Additionally, the service vessel has been custom-built to internally house the delousing technology within a dedicated sheltered deck to protect it from the elements, with the company expecting better operational efficiency, improved seaworthiness, and safer working conditions for the crew.
“Not only is the Kallista Helen another important step forward in our drive to ensure the best growing conditions for our fish, it’s also a great example of Scottish business supporting Scottish business from drawing board through to final deployment,” Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher said.
Kallista Helen is expected to arrive in Shetland in early May where it will be fitted out by Scale AQ’s Scottish team and Ocean Kinetics of Lerwick.
Once works are complete, the vessel will operate with two five-strong crews – one from Scottish Sea Farms, the other from Inverlussa – each working three-week shift patterns.
Photo courtesy of Scottish Sea Farms
