A fish farming business based in Scotland has taken possession of the first of four barges its has ordered from Macduff Shipyards – a deal worth £3.4million.
Macduff will deliver a further three barges as well as two landing craft to Scottish Sea Farms in time for its 2015 spring smolt inputs.
The first barge was towed from Macduff on the north-east coast of Scotland to its new location in Loch Kishorn on the west coast.
Newly appointed site manager at Loch Kishorn, Will Fulton, said: “I am delighted that the first of the barges is being deployed to my site. It’s a fantastic investment for Kishorn and for Scottish Sea Farms. We’re opening a third brand new site in Loch Kishorn in April and will soon take delivery of another 170 ton barge, along with a new build 14m landing craft.”
He added: “These are exciting times for the Scottish aquaculture industry.”
Scottish Sea Farms, owned by two Norwegian firms, said the investment in barges was part of a £13million investment programme across its Scottish salmon farms. The Argyll-based company said it produces 25,000 tons per year from 67 sites across the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, where it also runs a processing facility.
Jim Gallagher, managing director of Scottish Sea Farms, said: “This new vessel has arrived at our new site in Kishorn where we are creating at least ten new jobs and fresh opportunities for trainees and apprentices.
“This contract with Macduff is part of a £13million investment programme as we continue to develop new and existing sites to meet the growing demand for our quality salmon, both here and abroad.
“This investment is part of our commitment to putting something back into the Scottish economy wherever possible and supporting Scottish suppliers whenever we can.”