Kongsberg helps ‘revolutionise’ krill fishing

The NOK200 million deal will see Kongsberg design and equip the 120m vessel which will be built be Westcon, meeting both DNV GL’s clean design class notation and the IMO’s polar code.

Sustainability is key to the design with extensive use of heat recover and a large-scale application of electric components to reduce pollution. The vessel will be able to carry out much of the product processing on board, making more efficient use of the krill caught and reducing the quantity required.

“This will be the only vessel in the world where health food and food supplements are actually produced at sea immediately after catching,” explained Rimfrost chief executive, Stig Remøy. ”Short and careful processing will have a positive effect upon product quality. This will allow us to develop a number of new products as food additives for humans, animals and farmed fish as well as for pharmaceutical use. We believe this vessel will revolutionise krill fishing in Antarctica.”

Kongsberg will supply propulsion, steering and deck machinery, power, automation and telecoms. A Fishmaster integrated bridge solution comprising navigation, fish finding, catch monitoring and communications systems will also be included, in addition to remote support.

The vessel is expected to begin operations in 2022 and there is an option to construct a further vessel.