AKVA Group, DOKK Husøy partner to deliver concrete feed barges for Nordic and Scottish farms

NORWAY – AKVA group, a Norwegian aquaculture technology supplier, has formalised a strategic partnership with marine construction specialist DOKK Husøy to jointly supply concrete feed barges to salmon and trout farms across the Nordic region and Scotland.

The agreement expands AKVA group’s barge offering beyond its traditional steel-built portfolio, responding to growing demand for alternative materials and longer-term operational solutions.

“Concrete represents a growing share of the total market, and this partnership better equips us to offer customers what they actually demand, regardless of material choice,” said Erlend Røed Gundersen, Chief Operating Officer of AKVA group, highlighting the strategic intent to broaden material options and meet diverse operational needs.

Under the terms of the arrangement, DOKK Husøy becomes a key production partner for concrete barges, leveraging its existing track record of delivering more than 40 concrete barges over the past six years. 

AKVA group will integrate these concrete platforms into its sales, delivery and service network, providing customers with a wider choice alongside steel barges and complete feeding system integration.

The partnership primarily covers Scandinavia, Norway, Sweden and Scotland, regions with concentrated sea-based salmon farming, varied marine conditions and strong market volumes. 

By combining AKVA group’s feeding systems expertise with DOKK Husøy’s concrete construction capabilities, the collaboration aims to offer more resilient feeding platforms suited to exposed sites and long service life.

Arnt Ove Tangsgjerd, DOKK Husøy’s perspective, Managing Director, noted that the collaboration will bring proven, robust concrete solutions to a broader range of markets through AKVA group’s established global sales network. 

Feed barges in modern aquaculture

Concrete feed barges are floating platforms designed for on-site feed storage and distribution, capable of holding 600–700 tonnes or more, depending on configuration. 

The heavier, buoyant concrete hull provides enhanced stability in rough seas and can require lower maintenance over decades compared with steel barges, particularly in highly corrosive environments.

Each barge is designed to store between 200 and 500 metric tons of feed, enabling continuous operations and reducing the frequency of resupply. 

Modern water-fed systems integrated into these barges cut energy consumption by more than 80% per feeding cycle compared to traditional air-fed systems, making them both cost-efficient and environmentally responsible.

Although specific details on energy consumption per feeding cycle vary by system and configuration, innovations such as hybrid battery packs significantly reduce generator runtime and diesel consumption compared with conventional diesel-only setups, especially on large units with multiple feeding lines.

The partnership builds on existing projects in Norway and beyond. 

In Scotland, concrete barges have been deployed to withstand strong currents and harsh weather, supporting salmon farming operations in remote sites. 

In Chile, operators have adopted concrete barges to improve efficiency in large-scale salmon farms, where feed storage capacities of 600–700 metric tons are common. 

In Canada, concrete barges have been introduced to enhance stability and reduce operating costs in exposed Atlantic sites. Across these countries, operators report improved operational efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and greater resilience compared to steel barges.

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