July 2, 2024

BioMar to enhance exports to Tasmania, Australia with new US$13.2 million vessel

The state-of-the-art 86m vessel, ECOline, will enable BioMar to deliver up to 3,000 tonnes of fish feed on each voyage directly to New Zealand and other key markets.

Tasmania's Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that this investment would significantly boost BioMar's operations and Tasmania's trade. "With this new vessel, BioMar will be able to take Tasmania's trade with New Zealand to the next level," said Premier Rockliff. "BioMar has shown the huge demand in this market, recently reaching a milestone of 30,000 tonnes of premium fish feed shipped from Wesley Vale in the state's north to New Zealand."

In September 2022, BioMar secured a direct Trans-Tasman shipping service with support from the Tasmanian government, following a Trade and Investment Mission to New Zealand in August of that year.

"This new vessel will allow BioMar to establish a regular service on this route, significantly increasing the exporting capacity of fish feed to the New Zealand market," Rockliff continued. "With the new vessel servicing the Trans-Tasman shipping route, BioMar can now access this key export market without going via the Port of Melbourne. This will reduce shipping times and costs for BioMar and increase trade with our New Zealand neighbours."

David Whyte, BioMar managing director, highlighted BioMar's growth and impact in Tasmania. "Since we started in Tasmania in 2020, we've grown to employ more than 70 locals, and with the new ship, we've now invested more than $100 million here," Whyte said. "We are both contributing to and benefiting from Tasmania's aquaculture industry, and this latest investment reflects confidence in its strong and sustainable future. We're proud to have hit the 30,000-tonne New Zealand export milestone."

-      Aquafeed