Damen Shipyards Group and Folla Maritime have officially launched their new joint venture shipyard under the name Damen Folla, marking a significant milestone in their partnership aimed at delivering high-quality, sustainable vessel solutions for the global aquaculture sector. The announcement was made during the Aqua Nor exhibition in Trondheim, the world’s largest aquaculture technology trade show. As part of the launch, the new partners proudly presented a preview of their latest development: the Aquaculture Service Vessel (AQSV) 2813, a purpose-built design tailored to meet the evolving needs of modern fish farming operations.
The introduction of Damen Folla builds on the strategic relationship, began when Damen became the majority shareholder of Folla Maritime, announced in April this year. Folla Maritime contributes decades of experience in building aluminium workboats, while Damen brings a global network, offshore expertise, and a strong track record in delivering larger, steel vessels. Together, the two companies offer an expanded portfolio for the entire aquaculture value chain; from nearshore operations to offshore support.
“Damen Folla represents a new joint force for sustainable aquaculture solutions. With this joint venture, we unite local know-how with global scale,” says Jeroen van den Berg, Damen Product Director responsible for aquaculture and fishing. “This enables us to provide tailor-made solutions; from agile aluminium workboats to larger service vessels operating in rough offshore conditions.”
Folla Maritime sees the new name as a logical next step in expanding its offerings. “Our aluminium boats remain at the core of what we do,” says Otto Sjølien CEO at Folla Maritime. “Partnering with Damen opens new opportunities for larger, more complex projects, something we’re seeing growing demand for.”
As part of this joint commitment to innovation and sustainability, the new partners are proud to present in their first cooperation a preview of their latest development: the Aquaculture Service Vessel (AQSV) 2813. Compact yet powerful, this hybrid workboat (2-3 megawatt hours) combines a spacious 160 m² deck with three large cranes, making it ideal for a wide range of aquaculture and offshore operations, from net handling and anchor installation to ROV deployment, transport and towing. With advanced dynamic positioning (DP) capability, a bollard pull of 280 kN, and future-proof design, Damen Folla says that the AQSV 2813 sets a new standard for safe, sustainable, and versatile service operations at sea. The official launch will follow soon.
Damen Folla has paid special attention to the vessel’s silent crew accommodation, designed to maximise comfort and well-being during extended operations.
Damen previously supplied the Volt Processor, an advanced, multifunctional service vessel, to the Norwegian market. The Landing Utility Vessel (LUV) 2510 series has also proven successful in the UK aquaculture sector. Folla Maritime recently delivered vessels to Nova Sea and Vega Sjøfarm, including hybrid and electric-powered aluminium workboats.
