WELLBOATS
CONTAINMENT SPECIAL
• Experience: wellboats maybe relatively new in aquaculture, but are now manned by increasingly experienced operatives, while site managers are more accustomed to the potential risks that they pose, mak- ing for an experienced and competent combination.
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• Risk assessment: every time a wellboat is used at a farm the site manager under- takes a risk assessment of the potential dangers – this is particularly important when wellboats are being used for the first time at a site and more formal proce- dures are used for this higher risk opera- tion. Each company in Scotland that uses wellboats now has its own risk assessment protocols and these impressive initiatives involve close dialogue with their selected wellboat operators. • Moorings: from a containment perspec- tive it is the moorings that are most at risk from the presence of wellboats (and other large craft). It is therefore important to ensure both that the mooring specifica- tions are fit for purpose, and that the pat- tern of the moorings in arranged in such a way as to make wellboat access safe and easy. The modern wellboats operating in Scotland have bow and stern thrusters to increase safe manoeuvrability. • Communication: one of the best ways of minimising risks is to ensure that there is a good level of communication between the skipper of the boat and the farm site manager. It is important that this dialogue is initiated before the wellboat arrives on site to prevent any confusion. In essence this form of risk assessment – one based on common sense and sharing experience ahead of operations – is the foundation of secure containment.
• Division of responsibilities: close and constant dialogue between skipper and site manager is critical, as the captain’s main responsibilities are for the safety
of his vessel and crew, while the farm manager is focused on the wellbeing of the site staff and the welfare of his fish. In daily operations, this common sense division of responsibilities is easily main- tained at all times and both site staff and wellboat crew readily know their respec- tive responsibilities.
• Pumping fish to/from wellboats: pipes must be in good condition and regularly inspected for wear and tear. They should be thought of a bit like the tyres on a car – and should be changed when they become worn, not after they have burst. Secondary containment, including the use of nets, can be a useful additional precau- tion to this common sense maintenance if a particularly high risk operation, such the harvest of ISA-infected fish, is being undertaken.
• Codes of good practice: although differ- ent factors have to be taken into account (depending on elements such as site loca- tion and the weather conditions) Scot- land would benefit from an increasingly uniform code of good practice, to ensure that protocols are easier to follow dur- ing wellboat operations. The work of the ICWG is promising as it seeks to provide a standard that would consolidate best practice and formalise the existing pro- tocols. This would be of particular benefit to new skippers and will become a critical part of existing operations.
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