One of the criticisms levelled, with good reason, at the salmon farming industry in Scottish – most of which is externally owned with the profits exported – is that almost all of the support vessels for the burgeoning industry have been commissioned outside Scotland.
The Norwegian registered Scottish Salmon Company has bucked that trend for the third time. It commissioned a new landing craft for its existing fleet from the Ardmaleish Boatbuilding Company on the Isle of Bute.
Yesterday, 11th November, the boat was launched in a ceremony at the Ardmaleish boat yard – and named Erin Julia, in honour of the 15-month-old daughter from Tarbert of local resident Chris Smyth. Chris Smyth is a long time employee of SSC and was directly involved in the designs for the boat. And Erin Julia Smyth [above] was present to witness her namesake’s maiden voyage.
The boat is the latest craft to be commissioned by SSC – which operates 60 sites across Argyll, the West coast of Scotland and the Hebrides. Erin Julia will predominantly be covering sites in Loch Fyne, Loch Striven – just across the water from her cradle at Ardmaleish yard – and Arran. She is the third boat to be built by Ardmaleish in the past three years in addition to the extensive refurbishment and maintenance work they also carry out on behalf of SSC.
The two boats SSC previously commissioned from Ardmaleish are the Clare Anne and the Lady Charlotte, both of which were launched in 2012. Both are used for general duties including moorings, net changing, harvesting support and personnel movement. Clare Anne works in the southern region of the SSC’s operational areas, with Lady Charlotte deployed to the northern region.
Iain MacIntyre, Production Manager of The Scottish Salmon Company, says: ‘It’s been a pleasure to work with a company like Ardmaleish, which represents the same values of quality workmanship and Scottish heritage that are at the heart of The Scottish Salmon Company. We are proud to be adding the Erin Julia to our fleet operating in the local area.’
Ewan Ferguson, Managing Director at Ardmaleish Boatbuilding Company says: ‘Our business had been focusing on maintenance and refurbishment projects over the past few years, but SSC has enabled us to get back to our roots – building and designing boats. It has also resulted in us being able to take on more staff and grow the business as a result of this type of investment.’
Children from Port Bannatyne Primary School were invited to come along and get involved in the launch [top photograph], cheering the boat as it made its way down the slipway and into the water.
The Eric Julia looks a fine boat with the build quality from Ardmaleish obvious. We wish her well and hope to see her around Argyll waters.
