Halifax seafood firm Clearwater adds $70M clam ship to East Coast fleet
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
The Anne Risley, which uses automated systems to shuck and freeze harvested clams within an hour, replaces a 31-year-old vessel
The Anne Risley replaces a 31-year-old vessel and will employ 85 workers. PHOTO: Clearwater
HALIFAX—Clearwater Seafoods Ltd. has added a converted 73.4-metre (240-foot) vessel to its East Coast clam fleet.
Launched at an official ceremony at Pier 21 in Halifax Dec. 1, the Anne Risley will harvest Arctic surf clams off the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It was converted from a platform supply ship over the past 14 months and cost the company approximately $70 million.
Ian Smith, Clearwater’s CEO, said the factory ship will significantly boost the productivity of firm’s clam fleet.
“This investment follows the launch of the Belle Carnell in July 2015, which now completes Clearwater’s fleet modernization program, creating one of the most modern and technologically advanced fishing fleets in the world,” he said in a statement.
The ship replaces a 31-year-old vessel and will employ 85 workers.
Clams harvested by the Anne Risley are destined almost exclusively for the international market. The ship includes automated systems to shuck and quick-freeze the clams within an hour of harvesting.
Clearwater also invested $5 million in its onshore clam processing plants earlier this year.
