Bakkafrost Scotland, a prominent producer of Scottish salmon, has announced a substantial £4.4 million investment in its marine operations, awarding contracts to two Scottish shipyards. This strategic outlay includes a £3.5 million order for a new bespoke vessel with Aberdeenshire-based Macduff Shipyards and a £900,000 refurbishment project for a feed barge with Bute Boat Builders.
The contract with Macduff Shipyards will see the construction of a 21-metre by nine-metre moorings and heavy site works vessel. This new craft is specifically designed for crucial moorings work across Bakkafrost Scotland‘s extensive farm sites, equipped with specialist lifting, towing equipment, and thrusters to ensure safe operations around salmon pens.
The vessel is slated for delivery in September 2027.
Macduff Shipyards, established in 1940 and known for its expertise in building and repairing various vessels for the maritime and aquaculture sectors, operates facilities across Macduff, Buckie, and Fraserburgh. This significant order is projected to safeguard approximately 250 jobs and support over 10 apprenticeships at the yard, while also benefiting the wider north-east supply chain.
Concurrently, the £900,000 investment with Bute Boat Builders focuses on refurbishing a feed barge. This project involves a comprehensive overhaul, including cleaning, removing damaged components, and carrying out extensive mechanical and electrical upgrades. Upon completion, the barge, which will boast a 300-tonne feed capacity, is destined for deployment at Bakkafrost Scotland’s Loch Fyne site.
The initiative will also strategically reuse equipment from a smaller, outgoing barge, optimising existing assets and bolstering skilled marine employment on the Isle of Bute. Bute Boat Builders, a local firm on the Isle of Bute, specialises in constructing and maintaining working barges, vessels, and passenger ferries, contributing to long-term skilled employment in the area.
These latest investments build upon Bakkafrost Scotland’s ongoing commitment to the Scottish marine sector. The company has previously invested over £11 million with Macduff Shipyards for a series of vessels.
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Ian Laister, Managing Director at Bakkafrost Scotland, commented on the importance of these projects: “These latest projects are another significant investment in our marine operations and in the skilled businesses that support salmon farming around Scotland’s coast. The new vessel has been designed around the day-to-day needs of our farming operations and will strengthen our capability across farm sites for years to come.
At the same time, the refurbishment work on Bute shows how existing assets can be repurposed and returned to service through the expertise that exists within Scotland’s marine sector. As a business rooted in coastal communities, it is important to us that we continue backing the people, yards and supply chains that play such an important role in our operations.”
