AKVA barges for Grieg growth in Canada

AKVA group is to supply Canadian salmon farmer Grieg NL with at least eight feed barges, as well as feed systems.
Grieg recently won clearance to proceed with its planned $250 million project in the Placentia Bay area of Newfoundland, following an environmental review by the Supreme Court. The development is expected to create 250 new jobs, including in procurement.
AKVA, which like Grieg is Norwegian owned, has entered into a supply and sales contract with Grieg NL, becoming the salmon farmer’s exclusive supplier of feed systems and feed barges up to 2026.
The barges will be built locally, through AKVA’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, AKVA group North America, the company said in a press release.
The final number of barges is dependent upon the final number of licences/sites issued and approved by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the federal authorities, but there is scope for a minimum of eight.
Final sales contracts will be determined by AKVA and Grieg NL when the final design of the barges is agreed. The delivery is estimated to begin with the first three barges in Q2 2020.
After the Placentia Bay decision earlier this month, Grieg NL’s general manager, Knut Skeidsvoll, said: ‘Grieg NL is a willing partner with the provincial government in its strategy for advancing aquaculture, with the goal of increasing salmon production to 50,000 tonnes annually, and doubling employment in an industry that is both year-round and long-term.’