Inverlussa takes on its first wellboat
Aquaculture services business Inverlussa has acquired its first wellboat. The vessel, which has been renamed Isaac McKinnon, will be working with salmon producer Mowi on the west coast of Scotland.
Inverlussa already operates workboats for the salmon industry, and the addition of the company’s first wellboat will bring its total fleet to 22.
The Isaac McKinnon has a length of 57m and a well capacity of 1050m3. It was purchased on June 3, 2024, and spent the following weeks in drydock at Aas Mek Shipyard in Norway, where it was originally built. During this time, several upgrades and modifications were made, including the enhancement of onboard systems, the addition of extra crew cabins, the installation of a collapsible mast, and a complete paint job to adopt Inverlussa’s colours.
Ben Wilson, Inverlussa’s Managing Director, said: “This is a very exciting time for the company. Despite it being a natural progression from our current operations, it is still a big step forward for us. We want to be a leading supplier to salmon producers in Scotland, and to achieve this we must keep driving forward. We hope to bring our style of customer service and value for money that has proved to be a successful model in the workboat market and take it into the wellboat sector. In addition, we have recruited an experienced team of crew who will be key in delivering a high level of service.
“We have been very busy in the background to build the strong foundations and company structure that is required. This has involved upgrading of the company management systems, shoreside support and certification as well as gaining our ISM [International Safety Management] accreditations.”
He added: “We are delighted to have secured a contract with Mowi Scotland for this vessel. This opportunity marks a significant step in our ongoing relationship with Mowi, and we are eager to continue building on our long-term partnership.”
Inverlussa Managing Director Ben Wilson
Sean Anderson, Mowi’s Production Director, said: “We are pleased to see a Scottish company invest in its fleet to help supply the aquaculture sector with bespoke vessels well suited for the business and that complement our post-smolt strategy in Loch Etive. We are also looking forward to seeing the positive results that stem from Inverlussa’s skills development programme as a result of our continued business relationship.”
Inverlussa joins a very small number of UK-based wellboat operators. The company says it has already recruited experienced crew into key roles and upskilled some of its current workforce. Looking to the future, they also plan to attract new talent into the industry via their recently announced Cadetship programme.
Fraser McKenzie, Inverlussa’s Crew Co-ordinator, said: “Our progression to this size of ship allows us to offer cadetships to help attract and retain young talented individuals into the merchant navy fleet with the specific skills required in the aquaculture sector.”
