Damen launches aquaculture vessel shipyard joint venture

The move follows Damen’s majority stake purchase in Folla Maritime earlier this year.

Folla Maritime, which is based in Norway, specialises in building aluminium workboats, and with Damen’s experience in building larger, steel vessels, the joint venture will offer an expanded portfolio, they say, for the entire aquaculture value chain, from near-shore operations to offshore support.

The new shipyard is also in Norway, in Flatanger.

“Damen Folla represents a new joint force for sustainable aquaculture solutions. With this joint venture, we unite local know-how with global scale,” said Jeroen van den Berg, Damen Product director responsible for aquaculture and fishing. “This enables us to provide tailor-made solutions; from agile aluminium workboats to larger service vessels operating in rough offshore conditions.”

No sooner signed than delivered: the joint venture, which has been named Damen Folla, has already unveiled its first Aquaculture Service Vessel (AQSV).

A hybrid workboat with 2-3MWh of power, the vessel has a 160m² deck with three large cranes. 

“This hybrid is ideal for a wide range of aquaculture and offshore operations, from net handling and anchor installation to ROV deployment, transport and towing,” says Damen, adding that it has been ‘future proofed’. It will be launched in the coming months.

Damen previously supplied the Volt Processor, an advanced, multifunctional service vessel, to the Norwegian market. The Landing Utility Vessel (LUV) 2510 series has also proven successful in the UK aquaculture sector.

Folla Maritime has delivered vessels to the Nova Sea and Vega Sjøfarm, including hybrid and electric-powered aluminium workboats.