Benchmark Holdings plc, the aquaculture biotechnology business, today announces that it has entered into a partnership with MMC First Process AS and Salt Ship Design AS. The agreement aims to deliver an ‘Integrated Well-boat Solution’ by combining the expertise of the three companies.
Integrated well-boat solution
The objective is to integrate Benchmark’s CleanTreat® solution, a water purification system used in combination with the company’s sea lice medicine, Ectosan® Vet, with MMC First Process’ Technologies System Solution for fish handling into a well-boat design provided by Salt Ship Design.
Increased efficiency and sustainability
Once completed, the ‘Integrated Well-boat Solution’ should further increase the efficiency and sustainability of the entire water purification solution. The project will be conducted in two phases, and the well-boat design solution is expected to be delivered within the next six months. The first integrated solution well-boat is expected to be in operation by the end of 2025.
The integration of CleanTreat® into well-boats will make it more accessible for the aquaculture industry and enable greater use of efficacious sea lice medicines in an environmentally responsible way. The partnership demonstrates Benchmark’s ongoing commitment to optimise CleanTreat® and make it more accessible by broadening the range of platforms and continuing on its path to improving the system on other platforms, such as PSVs (offshore supply vessels) and barges.
John Marshall, Head of Benchmark Health, expressed his excitement about the collaboration:
The opportunity for Benchmark to work with two strong companies in this industry is fantastic. We are confident that we will see early synergistic opportunities from the project to increase efficiencies in our current and future operations on well-boats and other customer-owned platforms such as barges and PSV.
John Marshall, Head of Benchmark Health
The CEO of Salt Ship Design, Egil Sandvik, added:
Salt Ship Design is passionate about developing well-boat designs with a focus on improved fish welfare and environmental aspects. We see the collaboration with Benchmark and MMC First Process as a unique initiative in this regard. Combining the parties’ technologies and know-how will significantly improve and streamline the onboard sea lice management.
Egil Sandvik, CEO of Salt Ship Design
MMC First Process is a leading supplier of systems for live fish handling and logistics. The company has the experience, capacity and necessary resources to integrate the CleanTreat® Solution with the MMC Technologies system solutions for application and use in fish logistics systems on board well-boats.
We are looking forward to working together on this project and to integrating our system solutions into a purpose-made and optimised vessel with Benchmark and Salt Design.
Frank Edvard Vike, CSO at MMC First Process.
