Bespoke delousing vessel puts fish welfare first

March 16, 2021 | Robert Outram |
FREE FIRST USE Shipyard launches new vessel for Scotland’s fish farming sector First ‘airbag’ launch on the Clyde Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) has marked another milestone in its recovery with the launch of an innovative 26-metre workboat for Scotland’s fish farming sector. Hull 805, which was officially named Kallista Helen, is being built by Ferguson for Inverlussa Marine Services, a Mull-based workboat operator which serves Scotland’s growing aquaculture sector. The vessel will operate on the west coast of Scotland and around the Northern Isles on a long-term charter to Scottish Sea Farms, one of Scotland’s leading producers of salmon. The multi-role treatment vessel features an innovative design; it is the first vessel of its type to be designed and built in Scotland around a thermolicer system. It has two decks, offering greater flexibility and efficiency to perform water-based delousing treatments, as well as farm support roles. Accommodation includes six two-berth cabins, and the cargo deck has capacity for up to 200 tons. The vessel is due to be completed and delivered to Inverlussa in April. The launch marks a first for Clyde shipbuilding by using large inflatable marine airbags and a rolling motion to move the vessel into water. An airbag launch was considered safer and more cost effective for this vessel. Tim Hair, Turnaround Director at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow), said: “Kallista Helen is the second of two workboats we have built for Inverlussa, with the first one delivered last year. There’s a final programme of commissioning to be completed on the vessel post-launch and it will be ready to handover next month. On the back of a very challenging 12 months, this is a hugely positive event and is a clear sign of progress at the shipyard. Our contract with Inverlussa is also a great example of Scotland’s robust maritime sector, with the vessel designed, built and operating in Scotland.” Ben Wilson, Managing Director at Inverlussa Marine Services, said: “We were delighted to build this vessel in Scotland. I would like to thank Ferguson Marine and their workforce for delivering such a well-crafted, advanced vessel. We are looking forward to Kallista Helen starting work providing important services for Scottish Sea Farms. This shows the importance of the fish farm sector to Scotland and to Scottish jobs. The delivery of this vessel continues our strategy of investing in the best vessels and crew.” Jim Gallagher, Managing Director at Scottish Sea Farms, said: “Not only is the Kallista Helen another big step forwards in our drive to ensure the best growing conditions for our fish and maintain a steady supply of farmed salmon to market, but it’s also a great example of Scottish business supporting Scottish business. Events outside everyone’s control have caused delays but we’ve stuck together throughout, stayed focused on the end goal and now we’re back on course.” Kallista Helen is the third vessel launched by Ferguson since it was taken into public ownership in December 2019. Hull 804, which is the first of two ordered by Inverlussa and named Helen Rice, was launched in spring 2020, and an air cushion barge (ACB) for use in the oil industry was launched in June 2020. Ends Issued by Clark on behalf of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd. For further information, contact: Angela Hughes angela@clarkcommunications.co.uk 07970 184 198 Notes to Editors PHOTOS ATTACHED: images of Kallista Helen (Hull 805) launch featuring Tim Hair, Turnaround Director at Ferguson Marine; Ben Wilson, Managing Director at Inverlussa Marine Services; and Jim Gallagher, managing director at Scottish Sea Farms. Kallista Knight (18), the niece of Inverlussa’s Managing Director, named the vessel. VIDEO AVAILABLE: footage of the traditional bottle smash and timelapse of the full airbag launch is available for media use. Contact Angela Hughes at Clark angela@clarkcommunications.co.uk The shipyard is wholly owned by Scottish Ministers. It was taken into public ownership in December 2019. www.fergusonmarine.com signature_1870985241 Angela Hughes | Deputy Managing Director +44 (0)7970 184 198 clarkcommunications.co.uk ___________________ A picture containing text Description automatically generated Your security is important to us, so we promise never to give your information to anyone else without your consent, and that we will do everything we can to keep your details safe. Find out more about our privacy policy here. This email is intended for the addressee only and is completely confidential. If you’ve received it by mistake, please delete it and any other copies on your system straight away and tell us immediately by calling 0131 225 9596. Please do not reply to this email — you don’t have permission to copy, forward, disclose or use any part of it. If our emails are intercepted, delayed or lost, affected by a virus, arrive incomplete or corrupted then we are not responsible for any loss caused as a result. Mark F Gibson / Gibson Digital infogibsondigital@gmail.co.uk www.gibsondigital.co.uk All images © Gibson Digital 2021. Free first use only for editorial in connection with the commissioning client's press-released story. All other rights are reserved. Use in any other context is expressly prohibited without prior permission.

A new multi-purpose service vessel has been delivered to Scottish Sea Farms, and the company says it has been designed with fish welfare as its top priority. The Kallista Helen, launched yesterday in Glasgow, will be fitted with a state of the art thermolicer system.

The 26-metre vessel was built by Ferguson Marine, based in Port Glasgow and designed by Macduff Ship Design in partnership with Inverlussa and Scottish Sea Farms. The Kallista Helen is on long-term lease to Scottish Sea Farms from Mull-based Inverlussa Marine Services and will be used for lice treatment among other functions, allowing earlier intervention.

Ben Wilson, Managing Director of Inverlussa, said the Kallista Helen, named after his niece, was built with fish health and welfare front of mind: “From the outset, Scottish Sea Farms was looking to minimise fish handling and maximise fish welfare, designing the boat around those. The result is so much better when you start with the fish then consider the boat, rather than the other way round.”

The Thermolicer itself was designed and engineered by ScaleAQ in Norway in partnership with ScaleAQ UK. It features a simpler, straighter pipe layout creating a gentler experience for the fish; a wider than standard pipe of 600mm diameter to ensure a smoother journey through the system; increased capacity of up to 120 tonnes per hour; and a 150-micron filtration to separate and collect the dislodged sea lice for removal.

The vessel has been custom-built to house the delousing technology internally within a dedicated sheltered deck, to protect it from the elements. This has also freed more deck space, allowing three cranes to be fitted.

A heat recovery system will draw heat from the engines and transfer it to the delousing system, saving on both fuel usage and carbon emissions.

Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher said: “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.

“Events outside everyone’s control have caused delays but we’ve stuck together throughout, stayed focused on the end goal and now we’re back on course.”

The 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 on/off shift patterns.

Ben Wilson’s niece, after whom the Kallista Helen is named

 

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