The ship, formerly known as the Artemis Arctic and originally a prawn trawler named Ocean Trawler, has served as a seismic vessel for the oil industry but is set to return to its original purpose: fishing, over the coming months.

"This ship represents an excellent foundation for continuing our potentially industry changing fishing activities in the Barents Sea and promises both practical and economic benefits for Ava Ocean. We have worked diligently for an extended period to identify a vessel that is optimal for both the harvesting system and the natural conditions in which we operate," said Øystein Tvedt, CEO of Ava Ocean.

"We are pleased to award the refit contract to Fiskerstrand Shipyard, which also handled the rebuild of our first vessel. Collaborating with a reputable local operator in the region aligns with our commitment to promoting sustainable development beyond just the fishing industry we are part of," Tvedt added.

"It is exciting to participate in a project that contributes to the advancement of a green transition in fisheries, and we are very pleased to once again receive the contract from Ava Ocean for the refurbishment of the Artemis Arctic. We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration and contributing to Ava Ocean's unique fishery," said Dag Vikestrand, Managing Director of Fiskerstrand Shipyard.

Continuing historical non-invasive fishery in the Barents Sea

Ava Ocean has developed a unique harvesting system that gently lifts bottom-dwelling seafood from the seabed, drastically reducing the impact on marine fauna and minimising bycatch compared to traditional fishing gear. Because of the documented non-invasive nature of the concept, the company has been awarded the first quota to fish Arctic scallops in the Barents Sea in over 30 years. The previous vessel, Arctic Pearl, harvested scallops valued at 107 million NOK (approximately £8.5 million) in its first year but faced challenges with the onboard factory production.

The renovation includes the installation of the innovative harvesting system and a new frozen-at-sea processing factory, financed through a collaboration involving Innovation Norway, Eksfin, and Sparebanken Møre.