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Fish Hold Refrigeration Finance

Spread the cost of fish hold refrigeration and chilling systems from £8,000 to £90,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a fish hold refrigeration?

Yes, fish hold refrigerations are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £8,000 to £90,000, and most deals are written over 24–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£8k – £90k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £40k

Rates From

5.2% APR

What would a fish hold refrigeration cost per month?

£30,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical fish hold refrigeration price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.5% APR
Term
24–72 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Vessel owners wanting to own the system outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
24–72 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim the full lease payment against catch income

Refinance

Rate
From 6.2% APR
Term
12–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
You already own the system
Best for
Releasing capital from an owned system to fund other equipment

Representative example

On a purchase price of £30,000: a 10% deposit of £3,000, then 48 monthly payments of £633 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £33,384, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) System, Small Vessel (spec class) £10,000 – £25,000 Refrigerated Seawater Chilling System
Ice Slurry/Flake Ice Machine, Vessel-Mounted (spec class) £8,000 – £18,000 Flake Ice Machine
RSW System, Mid-Size Trawler (spec class) £25,000 – £55,000 Mid-Capacity RSW System
Full Fish Hold Insulation and Chilling Retrofit (spec class) £40,000 – £90,000 Complete Hold Refrigeration Retrofit

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Tax benefits

Fish hold refrigeration systems used for business qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000. HP agreements let you claim capital allowances on the system; lease payments are generally deductible in full against profits.

Market context

Fish hold refrigeration and chilling systems are bought by fishing vessel owners to preserve catch quality and value between landing and processing, with refrigerated seawater systems increasingly fitted where ice alone can't hold larger catches at the required temperature for longer trips. Fitting or upgrading a chilling system changes a vessel's electrical and cooling load, so a certifying authority may need to review the installation against the vessel's existing MCA coding, particularly for larger RSW plant with dedicated generator capacity. Because the equipment is normally installed into an existing coded fishing vessel rather than bought as a standalone asset, lenders generally underwrite the application against the vessel and the skipper's trading and landing history rather than the equipment alone. Catch quality premiums paid by buyers for well-chilled fish are one of the main reasons owners upgrade ahead of a hold reaching the end of its working life.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a hold refrigeration retrofit on a vessel I already own?
Yes, retrofitting refrigeration or an RSW system to an existing vessel is one of the most common reasons this equipment is financed, usually to improve catch quality and open up higher-value markets. Lenders will look at your vessel's trading and landing history alongside the cost of the installation, rather than treating it as a fresh asset with no track record.
Does adding an RSW system affect my vessel's MCA coding?
It can, since a larger RSW system adds electrical load and sometimes additional generator capacity, which may need review against the vessel's existing stability and safety assessment. It's worth checking with your certifying authority before the installation is finalised, particularly for a significant upgrade on a smaller vessel. Getting this confirmed in writing before ordering the equipment avoids a costly redesign partway through the finance and installation process.
Can I finance an ice machine instead of a full RSW system?
Yes, flake or slurry ice machines are a lower-cost alternative to a full refrigerated seawater system and are financed the same way, typically over a shorter term given the lower capital cost. The right choice depends on trip length and catch volume, and your finance broker or the equipment supplier can advise on sizing. Getting a supplier's recommendation in writing before applying helps the lender understand why a particular system was chosen for your operation.
What deposit is typical for a chilling system upgrade?
For hire purchase, most lenders ask for 10–20% deposit. Finance leases often require no deposit at all. A track record of consistent landings and catch income will generally help secure a better rate on the finance. Providing recent landing records or fish merchant statements alongside your application is usually the quickest way to demonstrate that consistency, and can also speed up how quickly a decision is reached.

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