FISH feed producer BioMar will offer space on its newbuilding vessel to other Tasmanian exporters when it enters trans-Tasman service early next year.
BioMar Australia, the Devonport-based subsidiary of the Danish company claimed to be the world’s leading provider of high-performance food for more than 45 fish and shrimp species, last year placed an order with a Vietnamese shipyard for a 86-metre fish feed carrier for dedicated Tasmania-New Zealand service.
To be named ECOline, the $20 million vessel, designed by Hobart’s Southern Ocean Solutions, will deliver up to 3000 tonnes of fish feed, manufactured at the company’s Wesley Vale plant outside Devonport, direct from that port to customers in NZ and other key markets.
The company has been shipping on MOVE Oceans’ small MPP Atlas Wind and recently reached a milestone of 30,000 tonnes exported since a Tasmanian Government trade mission helped open markets in September 2022.
ECOline will have capacity for about 100 containers and BioMar Australia MD David Whyte yesterday told Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff he hoped the state’s exporters could “piggyback” on the new service.
“This new vessel will enable BioMar to open up this route for a regular service, significantly increasing the exporting capacity of fish feed to the New Zealand market,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We know Tasmania has what the world wants, and with this new vessel set to service the trans-Tasman shipping route it will be easier than ever for BioMar to access this key export market without having to go via the Port of Melbourne.
“This new vessel will reduce shipping times and costs for BioMar and increase trade with our New Zealand neighbours.”
