Ísfélag Vestmannaeyja hf. is an Icelandic fishing company whose catch includes capelin, herring, mackerel and whitefish. For the last two years capelin has been excluded from fishing quotas, but with the expectation that quotas will be resumed for this special fish this year, there has been a renewed interest in the acquisition of 4 tanks for raw fish storage.
The fishing company submitted requests to a number of companies, including Skipalfytan ehf. (servicing and warehousing) and Eyjablikk ehf. (steel manufacturing), for the on-site construction of these tanks. Initially both companies were keen to fulfil the order, but soon came to the conclusion that the challenge was too big for them to put in a worthwhile bid. For that reason, the company started looking elsewhere for a tank constructor able to make good on the order.
The job consisted of the engineering and construction of 4 vertical tanks for the storage of raw fish, each with a volume of 560m3. The tanks have a diameter of 7 metres, a cylindrical height of 13.7 metres and are equipped with a conical top and bottom. The latter was essential for proper drainage. The biggest challenge was perhaps the size of the bottom, but through our collaborative networks we were quickly able to find a supplier. The design of the tanks is based on the international standard EN 13445. Because the tanks had to be installed in a coastal zone, they were manufactured from high-quality stainless steel 316(L). This material has a high corrosion-resistance rating which is necessary for saltwater environments.
The tanks were constructed in Gpi’s production facility in Groot-Ammers – a favourable location close to the water – and then transported by barge to Rotterdam. From there they were shipped to their final destination in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
