KAM Transport is working with New Zealand King Salmon to provide innovative new tankers for optimal transportation of harvested salmon direct from Marlborough salmon farms to its Nelson processing plant.

With its head office in Wellington, KAM Transport was looking to expand into the South Island. Providing New Zealand King Salmon with a great solution to seamless transportation that provides an optimal ‘chill curve’ for salmon saw them win the contract.

This in turn encouraged KAM’s parent company Preston Corporation to purchase the former Nelson Ranger processing factory near the New Zealand King Salmon Aquaculture Head Office in Picton office as KAM Transport’s South Island base, along with three of the new tankers and an ice slurry machine. Four new staff have already been employed as drivers and machinery operators, with more growth planned.

KAM Transport’s new Picton base, near Port Marlborough and New Zealand King Salmon’s Picton office.

Bill Bamber, KAM Transport’s Commercial Manager, says the company has invested a lot in Picton and is focused on growing business in the area. “Aquaculture is a growing industry and is a great business for us to be getting involved in. We want to make it work for everyone.”

KAM Transport’s General Manager, Chris Mooney, South Island Manager, Craig Pottinger, and Commercial Manager Bill Bamber stand in front of one of new salmon tankers.

Based on innovation developed by Tasmania-based De Bruyn’s Transport, KAM Transport’s chilled tankers are filled with an ice slurry which evenly cools the harvested fish from over a period of 2-4 hours. This optimal cooling enables the product to maintain the highest quality possible.

The purchase of a Beluga ice slurry plant from Ice Solutions Limited Gisborne, installed by Blenheim’s Cuddon Engineering, has enabled KAM to produce a constant supply of ice slurry.

KAM Transport’s new Picton base, near Port Marlborough and New Zealand King Salmon’s Picton office.

The tankers will be barged out to the New Zealand King Salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds where the harvested fish are loaded directly into the ice slurry. Once back in Picton, more ice slurry is added before they are driven to the Nelson processing plant.

New Zealand King Salmon’s CEO, Grant Rosewarne, is excited about the possibilities that KAM Transport’s tankers offer to the business. “Not only will they improve the quality of the salmon we’re able to provide, but they are growing the Marlborough job market and business economy as well – adding to the 70  people New Zealand King Salmon employs in Marlborough. It’s a win-win.”