Feed joint venture to spend £70m on ‘green’ vessels

Two ultra-modern vessels have been commissioned for the Norwegian feed transport company Fjordfrende, which is jointly owned by Skretting and Cargill.

The boats are due to be delivered in 2026 and will have a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system with a large battery pack, as well as engines that will be able to run exclusively on biodiesel.

The cost for both ships is estimated at NOK 950 million – or just over £70 million.

The contract has gone to the Norwegian company Eidsvaag although it is understood the vessels will be built in Bilbao, Spain.

In 2019 Skretting and Cargill decided to co-operate on the transport of fish feed in Norway.

Instead of ships with two separate names sailing close to each other on the same routes they agreed to collaborate on transport under the name Fjordfrende with their feed moved by the same vessels.

This, they said, would limit fishing traffic and reduce greenhouse transmission by at least a fifth.

The first new vessel is to be completed in the first half of 2026 and the other in the second half of that year.

Håvard Walde, CEO of Skretting Norway, said the move will strengthen delivery capabilities and reduce emissions through innovative technology and efficiency.

Tarjei Eide, CEO of Cargill in Norway, stressed the importance of efficient feed logistics in ensuring nutrition for salmon along the Norwegian coast and contributing to global food security.

Eidsvaag said there will be significant savings in fuel consumption and emissions. How much this will result in energy per tonne transported varies depending on which routes the boats take and is therefore difficult to estimate.

Managing director Vidar Eidsvaag said: “It has been 10 years since we last built a new boat, but this shows that the Fjordfrende collaboration is very active.

“Modern and more environmentally friendly vessels can help us in the competition for qualified workers. The vessels will also be able to deliver to more exposed locations than other vessels in our fleet.”

He added: “This will be a state-of-the-art vessel with good comfort for the crew and a cabin capacity for 14 people. At the same time, the boats will help reduce our carbon footprint and prepare us for the future.”

Fjordfrende has now been operational for almost five years. The partners say it has ensured a robust and efficient delivery system for Skretting and Cargill, despite some particularly demanding years in the supply chains and with high inflation in the sector.