5 minute read
Vince McDonagh
BY VINCE MCDONAGH
Solid solution
Øymerd’s fl oating islands should be tough enough to face the roughest seas
It is the latest in a growing line of futuris� c off shore salmon projects that look more like space sta� ons than fi sh farms.
A� er a long stand-off with the authori� es, Asta� ord Ocean Salmon AS has been granted four development permits allowing it to proceed with its much heralded “Øymerd” concept – a fi sh farm made of concrete and designed to cope with rough seas and winter ice.
Asta� ord Ocean Salmon is owned by two family salmon businesses, Kleiva Fiskefarm and Gratanglaks, who are prepared to spend the not insignifi cant sum of NOK 700m (£60m) to achieve their ambi� on.
But their tussle with bureaucracy is s� ll not over. Asta� ord was granted only half the number of permits it asked for and has decided to appeal, arguing it needs far more capacity to test the plant properly.
The four permits are for a total of 3,120 tonnes, but the company says it will require at least twice that fi gure.
Asta� ord’s applica� on for permits was ini� ally rejected by the Directorate of Fisheries for the somewhat strange reason that it did not meet the requirement for “signifi cant innova� on”.
The company mounted an appeal which was subsequently rejected by the Directorate, but that decision was overturned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Fisheries Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigsten has welcomed the change and says he looks forward to seeing the project reach frui� on. The dispute over the number of permits remains and it could mean further delay unless the issue is resolved quickly. The increased pace of coastal fi sh farming in Norway means that its � ords are becoming congested, so companies are looking for innova� ve solu� ons. Some believe projects like Øymerd are the future for off shore fi sh farming.
Øymerd is essen� ally a small fl oa� ng island, built mainly of concrete, which stands around 10 metres high. The plan is that it will be sta� oned off the north Norwegian coast near Harstad.
Three-quarters of the pla� orm (7.5 metres) will be underwater and it is designed to withstand some of the roughest seas the Troms coastal region can throw up. The precise loca� on has s� ll to be decided.
The pla� orm has three large specially designed net bags, radia� ng out in spoke fashion to hold the fi sh. Opera� ons are controlled by a three-storey high tower-like building in the centre of the pla� orm, with storage space under the deck for holding technical equipment and feed silos.
Øymerd will be equipped with an energy system that prevents ice forma� on on the deck and along the freeboard. There is also a helipad.
Top right: The Øymerd Above: Marius Arvesen Right: Odd Emil Ingebrigsten Left: Kleiva
Photo: Marius Arvesen
Tore Lundbergs, CEO of Gratanglaks, said: “We are sure that there is the greatest growth poten� al for the aquaculture industry from Troms and northwards. But if we are going to exposed loca� ons, we must also take into account ice problems, fi rst and foremost ice forma� on from sea spray.
“Øymerd can also become a solu� on for a more extreme climate, such as areas that risk dri� ice. Since the concrete structure is deep in the water, Øymerd will not move signifi cantly on the waves.”
Marius Arvesen the general manager of Asta� ord Ocean Salmon and a member of the family behind Kleiva Fiskefarm, says “Our aqua� c technicians can work under safe, stable condi� ons at the same � me as the fi sh are shielded from waves and surface current.... this also prevents lice infesta� on.”
He says the people at Kleiva have always had a strong focus on the environment and sustainability, with the company constantly working on new development opportuni� es.
Normally there will be four staff on duty at any one � me, but Øymerd is capable of accommoda� ng nine people.
Arvesen says he has great faith in the project, but points out that while the concept represents a new method of raising salmon, the technology is not that unusual as some of it is already in use by the off shore energy industry.
Everyone seems proud that Øymerd is an all-Norwegian project – for example, the concrete pontoons are being constructed by Kvaerner Concrete Solu� ons AS, based in Lysaker, near Oslo. The two inves� ng companies believe it will provide many construc� on, supply and engineering jobs as well as helping to solve a number of challenges such as sea lice.
Arvesen added: “We see no reason to build it outside Norway. In this way, we are sure that we will get a quality product.”
Asta� ord Ocean Salmon has worked closely with the suppliers Bemlotek and Kvaerner over the past couple of years. Kvaerner will build the structure at a suitable loca� on in Norway before it is towed north to Harstad for equipment and shore tes� ng
A large part of the design work in the last two years has been carried out by Concrete Structures.
“In this construc� on, we u� lise the robust Norwegian concrete technology that has previously been used in the North Sea and in several interna� onal projects,” says project manager Kåre Hæreid.
“The concrete used here will be a solu� on specially adapted to Arc� c condi� ons,” adds co-founder Rolf Valum.
Tore Lundberg summed it up saying: “This project is the best of both worlds. We have benefi ted greatly from the working methods from the oil industry, in addi� on to the deep exper� se in concrete and fl oa� ng pla� orms for rough seas.
“At the same � me, our long experience from both fi shing and aquaculture has probably been very important for the fi nal solu� on.” FF
