Working boat project was part of two feasibility studies: “Maritime Equipment Industry” and “Croatian Shipyards Competitiveness”.
In this project CroNoMar managed to create competitiveness in Croatian shipyards, with respect to building of aluminum catamarans for Norwegian market. Frame agreement between NCP and NAB is signed in December 2009 and first order is placed in January 2010.
Working boat project has two phases:
- First phase was creating competitiveness in Croatian shipyards, when it comes to build such a vessel from aluminum. Building in aluminum for Croatians was rather new way of building and only few vessels, or just partly vessels (superstructures) were built in Croatia in aluminum. Creating competitiveness was also how to create new supply channels in Croatian shipyards.
- Second phase is coming one, where CroNoMar would like to assist to create series effect for building aluminum working boats in NCP shipyard. With this approach NCP as shipyard will make themselves more effective, building vessels with higher quality and with less men hours per vessel.
Typical aluminum working boat for Norwegian fish-breeding industry is 13 – 15 meters length and 7 – 10 meters wide vessel. It has one or two deck cranes for daily operations. Fishermen are using such a vessel for daily operations on fish farm, such as: feeding the fish, cleaning nets, etc. The vessel is staying on fish farm and it functionality can be described as “fisherman’s tractor”.
For mentioned fish-breeding industry in Norway there is two more type of vessels to serve fish farms. One of them is “Pellet carrier”, vessel of some 50+ meters with multi bulk cargo areas. This vessel is bringing the food of different types and sizes to fish farms, and it is logistic vessel regarding equipment and supplies for whole fish farm. Other one is “Live fish carries” vessel, with main function to carry live fish from farm to farm or from farm to shore (processing factories). Such a vessel is generally 65+ meters long and it has more piping and pumping systems integrated in vessel. To create competitiveness in Croatian shipyards for building those two other type of vessels, CroNoMar is at this moment taking initiative and trying to place first order together with Norwegian customer.
Size of market for aluminum working boats in Norway is in range of 30 – 40 vessels each year, and the real size is much more since Norwegian fisherman is breading fish in other countries like Chile, Scotland, Ireland, etc.
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