Bakkafrost Scotland has awarded contracts worth £4.4 million (€5.1 million) to Scottish shipyards for a new work vessel and the refurbishment of a feed barge.
The salmon farmer has placed a £3.5 million (€4.1 million) order with Macduff Shipyards for a bespoke moorings and heavy site works vessel. A further £0.9 million (€1.0 million) contract has been awarded to Bute Boat Builders to refurbish a feed barge.
The new vessel, measuring 21 metres by nine metres, is scheduled for delivery in September 2027 and will be used for moorings work across Bakkafrost Scotland’s salmon farming sites.
According to the company, the Macduff contract will support around 250 jobs and more than 10 apprenticeships at the Aberdeenshire yard, as well as work across the wider regional supply chain.
The vessel has been designed specifically for farm-site operations and will be equipped with lifting and towing equipment alongside thrusters to improve manoeuvrability around salmon pens.
Separately, Bute Boat Builders will refurbish a feed barge for deployment at Bakkafrost Scotland’s Loch Fyne farming operation on Scotland’s west coast. The project includes mechanical and electrical upgrades, removal of damaged equipment and the reuse of components from a smaller barge being replaced.
Once completed, the barge will have a feed storage capacity of 300 tonnes.
The latest contracts add to Bakkafrost Scotland’s previous investment in domestic vessel construction. The company said it has invested more than £11 million (€12.8 million) with Macduff Shipyards through a series of vessel orders.
It has also invested approximately £7.2 million (€8.4 million) with Bute Boat Builders across seven vessels, including the recently delivered £1.2 million (€1.4 million) landing craft Spirit of Bute.
Ian Laister, managing director of Bakkafrost Scotland, said the projects would strengthen the company’s marine operations while supporting skilled employment in coastal communities.
Bakkafrost Scotland employs more than 400 people across 45 sites in Scotland and is part of the Faroese salmon farming group Bakkafrost.
