New feed barge for salmon firm

The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) has commissioned Gael Force Group to build a “state-of-the-art” feed barge for its Portree site in Skye.

The fish farm operator, which is headquartered in Edinburgh and listed on the Oslo stock market, said delivery was expected later this year.

The contract, which is said to represent a “significant” investment in the company’s operational infrastructure, follows consent being secured for an additional 2,000 tonnes of capacity at Portree.

SSC employs some 500 people across 60 sites on the west coast of Scotland and in the Hebrides.

Chief executive Craig Anderson said: “We have worked in partnership with Gael Force for several years and this newly-commissioned barge highlights our commitment to supporting Scottish businesses and local sourcing.

“The design process was very much a collaborative approach, both in terms of the technology and health and safety aspects.”

He added: “This commission reflects our commitment to investing in innovation to improve our operational efficiency and support business growth.”

Work on the 400-tonne, 14-metre long barge will begin imminently at the Gael Force base in Inverness. It is being fitted with highly sophisticated “Seafeed” technology, which has been designed and manufactured in Scotland.

Stewart Graham, group managing director at Gael Force, said: “This new barge will be one of the most sophisticated of its kind in Scotland. This announcement with the Scottish Salmon Company, along with an increased demand for feed barges, will see us enter the new year on a great footing.”