Aquaservice, a specialist in polyethylene (PE) marine vessels, has shipped the first two of four HardRIB HDPE (high-density polyethylene) boats to Salaks Produksjon, based in Troms, Northern Norway.
Designed for operational resilience in harsh marine environments, the boats are customized in Salaks’ corporate colors and intended to support the company’s daily activities in aquaculture.
Aquaservice’s general manager, Asgeir Skogstad, noted the long-standing appeal of the HardRIB brand, originally from Ocea’s product range but now enhanced for commercial use.
“We are pleased to deliver these robust vessels to Salaks. The HardRIB has earned a solid reputation for performance, appealing to a range of clients, including private users, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, and fish farming companies,” Skogstad said.
Each of the four HardRIB boats comes equipped with a Yamaha F-115 engine, with three featuring a standard console layout and one outfitted with a rib saddle. The boats will play a critical role in Salaks’ operations, with Operations Manager Terje Bertheussen noting their essential qualities. “These boats offer the durability, stability, and capacity needed for our work. We are eager to begin using them in the field,” said Bertheussen, who added that Salaks has already named the boats “Frisk,” “Rask,” “Sprek,” and “Kjapp” following an internal naming contest.
The HardRIB boats from Aquaservice are built with a focus on durability and minimal maintenance. The hull, crafted in collaboration with designer Ola Lilloe Olsen, is engineered for efficient fuel consumption and robust handling in various sea conditions, with a 46-degree angle in the bow, 27 degrees amidships, and 19 degrees at the stern. The HDPE material construction ensures high resilience against impact, while the design’s keel tube and twin pontoon configuration enhance stability and maneuverability. The integrated fuel tank sits below the waterline to optimize stability.
The remaining two boats are scheduled for delivery to Salaks later this month.