This journey began with the development of the sliding bulkhead used in wellboats.
A sliding bulkhead is a perforated “piston” that gently pushes the fish inside the well, ensuring that they exit efficiently and with minimal stress.
The technology — now standard on all wellboats — represented a major step forward in the handling and transport of salmonids.
A few years later, Napier initiated a project together with Mowi, exploring opportunities to take the next step.
After thorough evaluations and pilot projects, including collaboration with NOFIMA, the vessel Tauranga was converted into a harvest vessel in 2008.
Ever since, quality improvement and innovation have always been core values in our company, and we continuously work to increase the value we create for our customers. A vessel from Napier does not contain shelf products, and is rather a result of decades of continuous improvements and upgrades.
Our most recent vessels delivered are second to none in the world when it comes to technology to support fish welfare, biosecurity and logistical improvements for our customers.
How does a harvest vessel work?
When loading fish from the aquaculture site, the fish are pumped on board and guided into a pool. Here, they instinctively swim against the water current being guided into a machine where they receive a precise blow to the head followed by a cut to the main artery between the gills.
The fish are then led on to a control table, where each one is inspected to ensure proper stunning and bleeding before being transferred to tanks containing chilled, UV-treated seawater maintained at 0.5°C.
Harvest vessels play an important role in helping aquaculture companies to:
- Improve fish welfare
- Reduce mortality – there is no mortality during transport or in waiting cages
- Reduce risk during the transport phase
- Increase efficiency, leading to lower emissions per kilogram transported
Overall, this contributes to a more sustainable development of the aquaculture industry and helps enhance the industry’s reputation through responsible and efficient operations.
