Long-term charter contracts have been signed for the five new aquaculture vessels being constructed for DESS Aquaculture Shipping.
Marine Harvest Norge has signed a seven-year term charter contract for two 3,500-cubic-metre wellboats that are designed by Cflow and Salt Ship Design.
Accommodating 12 crew, the 82.2-metre by 16-metre vessels have a top speed of 13 knots. The diesel-electric propulsion includes three 1,300ekW generator sets, two 1,400kW azimuth thrusters and two 400kW bow thrusters.
Scheduled for delivery in the first and second quarters of 2020, they will be sister vessels of the two wellboats under construction at Turkey's Sefine shipyard.
DESS Aquaculture has options for another two wellboats.
Marine Harvest (Scotland) has also entered into 10-year term charter contracts for the three service vessels being built at Niestern Sander Scheepsbouw shipyard in the Netherlands.
They will begin their long-term contracts after delivery in the first half of 2019.
DESS Aquaculture is owned 50 per cent by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solstad Farstad and 50 per cent by Marine Harvest.