Ocean Farming - Containment
OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE moves closer
NOVEL DESIGN FOR AN AUTOMATED OFFSHORE PEN HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED
CHARLES NORRIS A
functioning model of a novel automated offshore ‘robo-rig’ has been hailed by its makers as ushering in a new era of aquaculture.
The mobile rig unveiled this month by Ocean Farming – a
subsidiary of the SalMar Group – has, apparently, been extremely well received by the aquaculture industry. Ocean Farming began development of the rig in 2012, with trials commencing in exposed ocean areas last year. The project has also been backed by Innovation Norway.
TECHNOLOGY
The design combines the best of existing technology from the Norwe- gian fi sh farming industry and the offshore oil & gas sector. The fi nal version will weigh in at 5,600 tonnes and is set to measure 67 metres high and 110 metres wide, with a volume of 245,000m2
, the
design will be an anchored fi xed fl oating structure suitable for water depths of 100-300 metres. The Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute (Marintek) has
performed model tests of the farm in the Ocean Basin at Tyholt, Trond- heim. The model was tested in realistic sea states with waves, current and wind conditions similar to those of Frohavet in mid-Norway. The largest signifi cant wave height on the location was 5m, but it included maximum single waves up to almost 10m and the testing revealed that the farm experienced only small movements, despite these conditions. Marintek reports that the mooring forces were acceptable, and the wave
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forces on the structure were minimal. The proposed design proved to function satisfactorily in depths of up to 150m. The design aims to allow for all of the farming operations to be managed onboard the facility, negating the need for service vessels and outside equipment. In practical terms this means that the fi sh can stay within the net – from the smolt stage right through to them reaching harvestable size.
The facility will also be equipped with one moveable and two fi xed bulkheads that can divide the pen it into three compartments, enabling different operations to be performed on the fi sh. Mounted spray nozzles on the moveable bulkhead will also allow regular net cleaning. Risk stud- ies have found the facility will be extremely secure in relation to escapes. The facility will be fully-automated, and during normal operations it will
require a crew of between 2 and 4 to monitor and manage – although it will also be able to be operated remotely. Later this year Ocean Farming will be inviting tenders for the con- struction of the fi rst pilot facility in the period 2014-16. A suitable loca- tion has already been assigned. FF
Marintek has performed model tests on the farm in the Ocean Basin at Trondheim
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