Benchmark signs agreement with MMC First Process AS and Salt Ship Design AS

Benchmark Holdings plc, the aquaculture biotechnology business, today announces that it has entered into a partnership with MMC First Process AS and Salt Ship Design AS. The agreement aims to deliver an 'Integrated Well-boat Solution' by combining the expertise of the three companies.

The objective is to integrate Benchmark's CleanTreat® solution, a water purification system used in combination with the company’s sea lice medicine, Ectosan® Vet, with MMC First Process’ Technologies System Solution for fish handling into a well-boat design provided by Salt Ship Design. Once completed, the 'Integrated Well-boat Solution' should further increase the efficiency and sustainability of the entire water purification solution. The project will be conducted in two phases, and the well-boat design solution is expected to be delivered within the next six months. The first well-boat with the integrated solution could be in operation within 2025.

The integration of CleanTreat® into well-boats will increase the accessibility of the solution for the aquaculture industry and enable greater use of efficacious and high welfare sea lice medicines in an environmentally responsible way. The partnership demonstrates Benchmark’s ongoing commitment to optimise CleanTreat® and make it more accessible by broadening the range of availability and continuing on its path to improving the system on other platforms, such as PSVs (offshore supply vessels) and barges. 

John Marshall, Head of Benchmark Health, expressed his excitement about the collaboration: “The opportunity for Benchmark to work with two strong companies in this industry is fantastic. We are confident we will see early synergistic opportunities from the project to increase efficiencies in our current and future operations on well-boats and other customer-owned platforms such as barges and PSV.”

The CEO of Salt Ship Design, Egil Sandvik, added: “Salt Ship Design is passionate about developing well-boat designs with a focus on improved fish welfare and environmental aspects. We see the collaboration with Benchmark and MMC First Process as a unique initiative in this regard. Combining the parties’ technologies and know-how will significantly improve and streamline the onboard sea lice management”, he said.

MMC First Process is a leading supplier of systems for live fish handling and logistics. The company has the experience, capacity and necessary resources to integrate the CleanTreat® Solution with the MMC Technologies system solutions for application and use in fish logistics systems on board well-boats. “We are looking forward to working together on this project and to integrating our system solutions into a purpose-made and optimised vessel with Benchmark and Salt Design,” added Frank Edvard Vike, CSO at MMC First Process.