Villa Vaali brings 1.6 million-dollar barge to supply ice for fish export

MALE, Feb 7 (HNS) – Villa Vaali has brought a 1.6 million-dollar barge to supply ice to fishermen and fish exporters. The barge, harboured beside Feydhoofinolhu island, can store 1,000 tonnes of ice blocks and has the capacity of producing 100 tonnes of ice per day. In addition, the barge has a cold storage that can store up to 80 tonnes of frozen fish. Gasim Ibrahim of Villa Trade and Shipping, one of the shareholders of Villa Vaali, said that the barge can help in supplying ice to enable exporters to export high quality fish. Villa Vaali hopes to provide ice to all fishing vessels in the region at cheaper prices. "We (fish exporters) are all working towards producing high quality fish. Hence, it is necessary that there be a constant supply of ice," Gasim told Haveeru. The barge has not been put into service yet. Gasim said that in addition to supplying ice to others, one of the main purposes of the barge will be to help process high quality yellowfin tuna when his company Villa Fishing embarks on extensive yellowfin tuna fishery. "Overseas markets can be gained only by exporting high quality products," Gasim said.