Underwater services
Below the
surface
Underwater operations and monitoring are being served by the latest technology
B
Y defini�on, much of what needs to be done in fish farming takes place underwater, which can present a challenging environment. One regular task, net cleaning, is much easier with equipment that can carry out the task in situ, remotely operated. In September, Mithal’s Remora net cleaner was deployed at Mowi’s site in Salvågvika, Norway, for the first �me. The Remora is a Norwegian-developed, autonomous robot that cleans cages gently and in a process that is energy efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable, while monitoring the environmental condi�ons and ensuring that the meshes in the net are intact. The system requires minimal maintenance. The Remora has been developed in collabora�on with SINTEF, the Norwegian Research Council and Innova�on Norway. In October, Mithal announced the appointment of Brage C Amundsen as CEO. Amundsen has plenty of experience with startups, having previously been co-founder of two tech businesses and a partner with consultancy Elleve. Ocein AS, located in the coastal town of Kris�ansund, develops technology and smart solu�ons for seawater fish farming and it has also developed an underwater net cleaning system. The company says its StealthCleaner is probably the most efficient and gentle net cleaner in the market, combining a large volume of water with low pressure to reduce wear and tear of the net. Ocein says: “A�er cleaning more than 8,000 nets with the Stealth Cleaner, we are very confident in its
56
Underwater Services and Products v2.indd 56
unrivalled performance.” The Stealth Cleaner is produced in close coopera�on with manufacturer, Kystdesign. Featuring the stateof-the-art XCS control system and seven powerful thrusters, the ROV can move swi�ly and under full control in any direc�on. Some underwater net cleaning systems use water at high pressure, and so require pumps to produce that power. NLB’s 225 and 325 Series water-je�ng pumps are specifically designed for the demanding rigours of net cleaning in the harshest of environments. Extremely reliable, proven pump systems provide up to 4,000psi (275 bar) of trouble-free, low-maintenance performance. These units can be easily integrated with many exis�ng net-cleaning head systems. Kevin Onclin, CEO of net cleaning business Badino� Canada, endorses the product based on his experience of using them at his own company. He says
This page from the top: Ross-
shire Diving Services Ltd;
Brage Amundsen; The
Remora net cleaner
Opposite, clockwise from top right: The Saab Seaeye
Falcon topside; The Ocein AS StealthCleaner; The SubCEyes drone; SubC3D biomass camera shot; Saab Seaeye Falcon
www.fishfarmermagazine.com
11/01/2022 15:06:58
