Deal marks the first time the Scottish producer has incorporated a semi-hybrid vessel into its fleet.
Visscher Seafood Group has announced the delivery of a new workboat by Nauplius Work Boats from the Netherlands to Inverlussa in Scotland.
This vessel will support salmon farming operations at the company Scottish subsidiary, Organic Sea Harvest.
The vessel, named Arthur Douglas, has been delivered as part of an ongoing partnership with Inverlussa Marine Services.
The 21-meter long Arthur Douglas will be deployed at Organic Sea Harvest’s sea sites off the coast of the Trotternish peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
This marks the first time Organic Sea Harvest has incorporated a semi-hybrid vessel into its fleet, aiming to reduce noise and fuel consumption during overnight stays or stormy days.
The semi-hybrid system on board the Arthur Douglas includes a battery pack that stores energy during operational hours. This stored energy can then power the vessel during harbor settings, allowing the generators to be turned off.
Specifically designed for aquaculture and mooring operations, the Arthur Douglas boasts a deck cargo capacity of 90 tons and a 15-ton deck winch. It is also equipped with two deck cranes—one forward and one aft—with lifting capacities of 72 ton/m and 30 ton/m respectively.
Robaidh Halliday, Sites Manager at Organic Sea Harvest, expressed enthusiasm for the new addition. “We are pleased to welcome the Arthur Douglas to our sites here at OSH. She has been specifically designed to meet our multipurpose needs. With her large deck space, twin cranes and winch, she will be able to handle anything we ask of her. We have a great working relationship with Inverlussa and we very much look forward to continuing this with the addition of the Arthur Douglas to our operations.”
Ben Wilson, Managing Director of Inverlussa Marine Services, also commented on the partnership: “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with OSH and appreciate the trust they place in us. Our strategy remains focused on investing in the most up-to-date vessels and partnering with the industry’s finest crew, with the Arthur Douglas being a prime example.
“We believe Arthur Douglas will be a great fit for OSH operations. It’s a vessel design we’ve had a lot of good experience with, and the semi-hybrid system is a big improvement which will result in efficiencies and reduced fuel use throughout the year. Along with our crew, we are keen to get started!”
