MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Norwegian super trawler for krill industry

Norwegian industrial holding company Aker ASA announced that its subsidiary Aker BioMarine has decided to invest 170 million US dollars in building a second krill harvesting ship, probably the highest cost ever for a fishing vessel.

The advanced new vessel, scheduled for completion by 2010, is expected to increase Aker BioMarine's annual krill harvest to some 100,000 tons, which will enable Aker BioMarine to produce some 1,200 tons of high-grade krill oil during the first year of the new ship's operation. The production is expected to more than double over the following years.

Krill oil is rich in bioactive components and has important markets in pharmaceutical, food, and aquaculture industries.

"The targeting of krill will change the make-up and direction of Aker BioMarine's activities. For many years vessel operations and the development of innovative harvesting methods have been the company's focus. Tomorrow's Aker BioMarine will produce valuable, advanced bioactive ingredients derived from marine fauna, for additives to pharmaceuticals, foods, and specialized feed for fish farming" says Helge Midttun, Aker BioMarine President and CEO.

The proposed merger of the biotechnology company Natural ASA with Aker BioMarine, announced by Aker, will accelerate the new direction in the development of Aker BioMarine. Natural ASA will add its broad expertise and capabilities in product development, sales, and marketing to Aker BioMarine, and will complement Aker BioMarine's unique capacity and experience in marine harvesting and processing.

Krill oil contains several unique bioactive components, which include Omega 3-bound phospholipids and the antioxidant astaxanthin. Omega 3 phospholipids enhance cell membrane elasticity and promote molecular transport across cell membranes. Omega 3 phospholipids are essential building blocks of the body's cells.

While the benefits of Omega 3 phospholipids in promoting physical health and mental functions are well known, the limited availability of natural sources of high-value Omega 3 phospholipids has inhibited the development of their market on an international scale.

Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful inflammation-reducing antioxidants found in nature. When consumed along with Omega 3, astaxanthin enhances several of Omega 3's health benefits.

"These and other constituents make krill oil suitable as an additive for a variety of foods, known as functional foods," Midttun says. "The market for functional foods is growing rapidly, especially in Europe and Asia. Traditional health food and dietary supplements are also important market segments for our krill oil."

In aquaculture, specialized fish feed of various kinds is a key market for Aker's krill oil. High-formula krill oil will be an important feed for juveniles of farmed marine species such as cod, sea bass, and sea bream, as well as shrimp, salmon, and trout. Both krill oil and krill meal contain astaxanthin, which produces the red color characteristic of salmonids. The fish feed additives produced by Aker BioMarine will give aquaculture salmon and trout their prized, red color in a natural way.

With two vessels in operation, Aker BioMarine will harvest about 200,000 metric tons of krill annually. The first step in processing is to turn krill into krill meal. Annual production is estimated at 25,000-30,000 tons (extracted water accounts for the reduction in tonnage).

A significant proportion of krill meal production is further processed into high-value oils through the use of advanced extraction methods. Krill meal itself is a valuable product with applications far greater than those of traditional fishmeal.

"We have no plans to expand krill harvesting capacity beyond one new vessel," Midttun says. "Based on 200,000 tons of raw material, we have more than enough feedstock to establish efficient and profitable production. Our growth potential is largely associated with increased extraction of high-value end-products and positioning ourselves in new markets, for example in the pharmaceuticals industry." In addition to its krill targeting in Antarctic waters, Aker BioMarine's activities include surimi production in Argentina and Faeroe Islands fisheries.

Aker Group, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, is a worldwide supplier of technology-based products and advanced, integrated solutions for customers in oil, gas, energy and process industries. The Aker Group is also a major European shipbuilder and a significant participant in the fisheries industry. The company has almost 50,000 employees and its annual revenues exceed NOK62 billion (almost 10 billion US dollars). Aker ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker AKER. The largest companies within the Aker Group are Aker Kværner, Aker Yards, Aker American Shipping, Aker Seafoods, Aker Material Handling, Aker Drilling and Aker Floating production