FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY
The Steinsvik HardRIB —Making aquaculture sexy?
by Vaughn Entwistle, Managing editor, International Aquafeed
“STEINSVIK RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW BOAT WITH AN OLD NAME: THE HARDRIB”
The workboats used in aquaculture are not meant to be sexy. These boats are the workhorses of the industry, and are typically employed in hauling fish farmers, sacks of fish feed, tools, netting and other heavy equipment. They must endure a rough and ready life, pounded by heavy seas, or being beached on stony shores. It’s not a glamorous life, but Steinsvik has recently debuted a new boat which demonstrates that when-form-follows-function, the results can be surprisingly alluring. Steinsvik recently launched a new boat with an old name: the HardRIB. Many will remember the HardRIB name fondly, and the old boat’s reputation for toughness and longevity is clearly evident in the DNA of the newest boat to share that illustrious name. When Steinsvik opted to re-introduce the HardRIB they decided to do everything right. The new hull was developed in collaboration with Ola Lilloe Olsen, who is known, among other things, for his work on Palmer Johnson boats. The result is that this new edition of the HardRIB achieves a new level of seaworthiness and the way the boat is designed and constructed ensures that it can take a beating without suffering battle damage.
Unique hull design
Steinsvik has a patent pending on the boat’s entire structure. The hull is built around the two pontoons and a unique keel tube that combine to produce a dynamic boat. The hull is 46 degrees in the bow, 27 degrees amidships, and 19 degrees aft. This ensures fantastic turning characteristics while providing stability and excellent fuel economy. The fuel tank is mounted low in the boat, below the water level, to optimise stability.
40 | December 2018 - International Aquafeed