Bakkafrost Scotland to receive £1.2 million landing craft

Scotland's leading salmon producer, Bakkafrost, has taken delivery of a new £1.2 million landing craft for its farm sites in Loch Striven, Argyll and Bute, and Arran.

It was built by Bute Boat Builders, a Scottish shipyard that designs and constructs vessels, particularly for the maritime and aquaculture industries, and the son of James Perlich, manager of the company’s Ardyne site, has named it Spirit of Bute.

Thanks to this project, which represents a total investment of £7.2 million by Bakkafrost Scotland across seven vessels, skilled jobs will be created, and the local maritime supply chain will be sustained.

Regarding this, Director at Bute Boat Builders, Ewen Ferguson, noted: "Building Spirit of Bute for Bakkafrost Scotland has been hugely valuable for the island's economy, helping sustain specialist boatbuilding skills and allowing them to be passed on to the next generation."

The vessel, measuring 19.5 metres in length and 7.5 metres in beam, joins a line of previous vessels including Maid of Ulva, Clare Anne, Lady Charlotte, Netty, Fyne Blue, and Lady of Striven.

Among its onboard systems is an FNC8 net washing system, used to keep the nets clean in the water, as well as a six-tonne crane and accommodation for the crew.

"It has been built around the day-to-day needs of our operations and will play a key role in work on site, from net cleaning to lifting and general farm support," assured Managing Director at Bakkafrost Scotland, Iain Laister.

The Faroes-headquartered salmon farming company published in February its results for the fourth quarter of 2025, highlighting that the at-sea biomass in its Faroese farming operations reached the highest level recorded at year-end.