Chinese shipbuilder CIMC Raffles announced that it recently signed a formal contract with Pelican Aqua Holding Plc for the construction of 4+2+2+2 5000m³ Live Fish Carriers (LFCs). Deliveries of this series of vessels are scheduled to begin in 2029; this marks the first series of live fish carriers secured by a Chinese shipyard from the cutting-edge market of Northwestern Europe.
The vessel design for this project was carried out by Salt Ship Design and features an advanced live fish handling system provided by MMC First Process, meeting the operational requirements of the Norwegian and international markets for modern, eco-friendly fishing transport equipment.
As a key development trend in global modern marine fishing equipment in recent years, live fish transport vessels have set higher standards for fish welfare, biosecurity, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability. This project will combine advanced Nordic fishing industry concepts with CIMC Raffles’ high-end shipbuilding capabilities to create a new generation of modern, high-standard live fish transport vessels.
In recent years, CIMC Raffles has focused on the high-end marine fisheries equipment and offshore engineering markets, establishing long-term, stable partnerships with numerous Nordic shipowners, design firms, and key equipment suppliers.
Prior to the Pelican Aqua project, CIMC Raffles had successfully participated in the construction of several internationally leading fisheries and marine aquaculture projects, including the world-leading “Norlaks Havfarm 1” deep-sea smart aquaculture platform and the construction of advanced Antarctic krill transport vessels for Aker BioMarine.