Vard secures contract for krill fishing vessel

The new vessel of VARD 8 10 design is specially developed for sustainable fishing operations in Antarctica. The vessel will measure 130m of length, 23m of beam and will be equipped with technology for environmentally friendly operations. Krill is a small shrimp like sea species. Mr Webjorn Eikrem, vice president production and supply chain in Aker BioMarine, said the vessel’s operations will be energy efficient, with a bio-refinery capable of processing raw krill material while still in the Antarctic. Delivery is scheduled from Vard in Norway in the fourth quarter of 2018. The hull of the vessel will be built by Vard Tulcea in Romania. The contract is still subject to certain conditions, including usual financing, Vard said. Aker BioMarine develops krill-based ingredients for use in food ingredients, fish farming and animal feed. In a separate statement, the Norwegian government said it will begin to offer financing guarantees through its agencies GIEK and Eksportkreditt Norge to Norwegian companies seeking to build krill vessels in Norway. Such financing has previously been reserved for foreign firms seeking to build at Norwegian yards. Aker ASA owns 99.5% of Aker Biomarine.
Norway is the biggest krill fishing nation, with about 60% of catches in recent years, according to data from the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. The commission says catches are well within sustainable limits.