An unusual arrival at the Cumbrian port of Workington was the 1,460dwt wellboat Viktoria Viking (2009), which collected a cargo of live fish from local fish farms. Built by Aas Mekaniske Verksted at Vestnes in Norway, the 57m vessel averages 9.7 knots, and she works round Scotland from Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Campbeltown to Barcaldine, carrying live fish cargoes, the smolts (juvenile fish) being discharged into cages at the fish farms.
The vessel was purpose-built for Fosnavaag Shipping, which also owns the smaller live fish carriers Viktoria Lady (2006) and Gripfisk (1997). Viktoria Viking has been such a success that Fosnavaag have awarded a contract to the Norwegian Havyard Group worth NOK250 million to design and build a new wellboat for delivery in January 2014 to the Havyard 587 design. RC
