Freire Shipyard celebrated the keel-laying of the aquaculture vessel Tauriko, a highly complex vessel being built for the Norwegian group Napier.
The unit will be the largest in the Nordic company’s fleet and will be positioned as the largest harvest and fish transport vessel of its category within the aquaculture segment.
Delivery of the Tauriko is scheduled for 2027. The vessel was designed in collaboration with Salt Ship Design and represents a new generation of vessels for the Norwegian aquaculture industry, featuring improvements over the current Tauroa and Tautiki in speed, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.
Tauriko will be the largest in its category
The Tauriko will have a length of 83.90 m, a beam of 15.80 m, and a draft of 5.30 m. Its design will allow it to reach a speed of 17 knots, powered by a 5,200 kW diesel engine and a 2,000 kWe PTO/PTI shaft generator.
This configuration aims to reduce transport times between the farm cages and the processing plants, optimizing the salmon logistics chain and improving the efficiency of aquaculture operations.
The vessel will also feature two fixed-pitch maneuvering thrusters at the bow and stern, as well as accommodation capacity for 17 people on board.
Processing 200 tons per hour
The Tauriko will incorporate an advanced, custom-designed processing plant with Stun & Bleed systems and efficient discharge. These technologies are aimed at improving fish welfare, increasing the quality of the product delivered on shore, and enhancing process efficiency.
The vessel will have a processing capacity of 200 tons of salmon per hour and will be able to transport up to 750 tons of fish in its tanks.
Additionally, it will feature eight processing units capable of treating up to 36,000 fish per hour, along with bleeding, sorting, and storage systems in refrigerated water tanks and ozone technology.
Sustainable design for aquaculture
The project has been developed in accordance with demanding Norwegian environmental, ethical, and quality standards. The Tauriko will comply with IMO Tier III regulations, aimed at reducing polluting emissions, and will be classified by the DNV society.
Freire Shipyard highlights that the vessel utilizes state-of-the-art technology to improve fish quality on shore, reduce times within the production chain, and operate with higher levels of energy efficiency.
The incorporation of refrigerated water and ozone preservation systems also reinforces the vessel’s sanitary and operational focus within the aquaculture segment.
Freire strengthens its naval position
With this project, Freire Shipyard consolidates its expertise in the construction of highly complex specialized vessels for international shipowners.
The Vigo-based shipyard thus adds a new reference in the aquaculture sector, a market where the demand for more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced vessels continues to grow.
Napier, for its part, will expand its fleet with a unit designed to meet the demands of modern Norwegian aquaculture. The Tauriko will combine cargo capacity, speed, on-board processing, and environmental solutions to improve salmon logistics from the cages to the shore.
Source and photo: https://freireshipyard.com/
