Abyss invests in multipurpose vessels – the fleet of the future will do more

Abyss has signed a contract with Moen Marin to build two new hybrid vessels. Designed as multipurpose vessels, they will have capacity for round-the-clock operation and the flexibility to switch between net cleaning and vessel service assignments. This is intended to increase utilisation throughout the year and help set a new standard for delivering net cleaning and service.

– The combination of high capacity and round-the-clock operation enables us to carry out more operations with fewer mobilisations and shorter completion times. For us, this is the very definition of a smart vessel, says Stein Arve Olsen, COO of Abyss.

– We greatly appreciate the renewed trust Abyss has placed in us through these two investments. The relationship between Moen Marin and Abyss goes back many years, and we value the way Abyss challenges and inspires us and helps us improve as a supplier. Together, we have developed two flexible, innovative service vessels built to meet future demands for efficiency, operational reliability and sustainability in aquaculture, says Robin Johansen, CCO of Moen Marin.

The vessels are designed by Marin Design.

Built for higher utilisation

The vessels will be 22 metres long and 12 metres wide, operating in two shifts around the clock. This provides more operating hours and far greater capacity than traditional operations.

During the summer half of the year, the vessels will operate as net-cleaning vessels. With powerful crane packages and modern deck arrangements, they will be able to carry out service and site fallowing during the rest of the year.

The new vessels also create opportunities to organise operations differently. Round-the-clock capacity enables more continuous net cleaning than traditional operations. This makes it easier to keep nets clean and maintain good water flow throughout the production cycle, while supporting the industry’s goals of efficient operations and good fish welfare.

Fleet renewal with the crew at its heart

The vessels will have dedicated cabin decks accommodating eight people in single and twin cabins. Electric high-pressure pumps will also reduce noise and strain on board. This matters both for the working environment on board and for limiting noise in the communities around the sites.

For Abyss, investing in its crews is as important a part of fleet renewal as investing in capacity and technology.

– When we invest in the fleet of the future, it is about more than capacity and operational performance: it is also about the people on board. To make round-the-clock operations work, vessels must be designed for safety, wellbeing and proper rest. This is an important part of our philosophy of ‘good operations’. Good working conditions underpin the quality, safety and predictability our customers expect, says Olsen.

An important milestone in fleet renewal

Earlier this year, the service vessel Fosnakyst and the diving support vessel Fosna Neptune were both named, each built to deliver high capacity and operational quality. With the two new multipurpose vessels, Abyss is taking fleet renewal a step further. Designed to carry out several types of operation from the same platform, the vessels represent a direction we believe will become increasingly important in aquaculture.

– We see a long-term need for more efficient, flexible service, and this investment is a natural step in our fleet renewal. The ambition is not necessarily a larger fleet, but a smarter fleet with vessels that can do more and create greater value for our customers, says Olsen.

Both vessels are due for delivery in spring.

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‍Illustration: Marin Design. Image supplied by Moen Marin.