VESSEL REVIEW | VOLT Harvest III – Norwegian aquaculture support company adds new workboat to fleet

Norwegian shipbuilder Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted (FMV) recently delivered a new stun and bleed workboat to local aquaculture support specialist Volt Service.

VOLT Harvest III has an length of 42.7 metres, a beam of 10.2 metres, a depth of 4.8 metres, a gross tonnage of 890, a harvesting capacity of 100 tonnes per hour, and hold space for up to 400 tonnes of fish.

Live fish is hauled on board via pumps and then anesthetised before being gently loaded into dedicated tanks. FMV said that by anesthetising the fish immediately after pumping, the stress on the fish is minimised. Optimar supplied the electroanaesthetisising equipment and four automated bleed lines with the aim of preserving fish welfare. PTG Frionordica provided the onboard refrigeration systems while Palfinger Marine installed a knuckle boom crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 2,950 kilograms on the aft deck.

The vessel also boasts a hybrid electric propulsion system that includes a Caterpillar engine, a Corvus Energy 848kWh battery pack, and shore power charging equipment. The machinery configuration and an optimised hull shape ensure a low footprint. It is also possible for the vessel to either navigate or conduct bleed operations entirely on battery power for several hours, hence reducing the overall emissions generated by daily use.

The crew spaces meanwhile include cabins and a lounge.

VOLT Harvest III was designed in compliance to DNV class requirements. Its main area of operations encompasses western and central Norway, where the other vessels in the Volt Service fleet are also deployed.

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