DESS Aquaculture and Marine Harvest have contracted to build two new-build wellboats, Solstad Farstad — which owns 50 percent of DESS — told shareholders on Tuesday. Marine Harvest owns the other 50 percent.
The two new vessels will have holds of 3,500 cubic metres and are sister ships to two wellboats already being built by Turkish shipyard, Sefine. Their charter contract is for seven years, and they’ll be delivered from the yard in the second quarter of 2020.
Meanwhile, three service vessels have also entered into 10-year charters between DESS Aquaculture Shipping and Marine Harvest Scotland. Those vessels will be built at the Dutch shipyard Niestern Sander Scheepsbouw for delivery in the second-half of 2019.
All the Dutch-built vessels will start on long-term contracts right after delivery.
DESS Aquaculture now has six wellboats, one factory vessel and three service vessels under construction. All of these boats have secured long-term charters.
“We are very satisfied with developments in the aquaculture segment, and these latest additions to the building program and order reserve,” DESS Aquaculture Shipping CEO, Jon Are Gummedal, said in a statement.
“We look forward to welcoming the first vessel during the second-quarter this year,” he said.
