RINA's approval of offshore fish-farming vessel

 

The ship classification society, RINA, has recently announced its approval of a new-concept offshore fish-farming vessel, Ocean Ark.

The vessel is developed by Ocean Arks Tech of Chile (OATECH) in accordance with RINA Rules and Marpol, Solas and IMO regulations. It delivers a new approach to fish farming and will dramatically improve fish health, crew comfort and the industry's image.

The ocean may present a solution to meet the nutritional needs of a growing world population. Deploying the Ocean Ark away from marine heatwaves, algae blooms and storms - all causing strain on aquaculture production - would produce higher quality protein and increase world fish production without increasing pressures on fish stocks and coastal habitats.

With its capacity of 4,000 tonnes of biomass, this technology allows for the low-density production of healthier, higher-quality fish at lower costs than offshore, land-based and coastal aquaculture systems currently available. The Ocean Ark can operate near Asian, US and EU consumer markets to reduce transport emissions.

RINA Marine Principal Engineer for North West Europe, Patrizio Di Francesco said: 'Sustainability is a core strategic pillar at RINA, but this is not just about reducing carbon emissions. A sustainable food production chain is also needed to supply an increasing global demand for nutrition. We believe aquaculture in the open sea is one solution that will help for the future.'

The fish-farming vessel is a self-propelled, AI-assisted, low emissions trimaran that is 170m long and 64m wide. With its artificial intelligence and self-cleaning fish cages made of copper, the vessel ensures fish health and welfare and are high.

'This is an unusual vessel. Its AiP presents a milestone for both the fish farming industry and for the classification of ships with an unconventional design. It is an innovative approach to the sustainable harvesting of fish to help ensure food security and sovereignty and one which may revolutionise fish farming for the future,' Di Francesco concluded.

For more information about RINA click, HERE.

Image credit: RINA

Consortium of companies to tackle digital transformation of fish farms

An international consortium has begun a pioneering €1.3 million (£1.11 million) pilot project, 'Aquaculture Insights' in Badcall, Scotland, that will accelerate the aquaculture sector's digital transformation and support the drive towards enhanced sustainability, productivity, and operational efficiency on fish farms.

Led by Japan's Uhuru United, the consortium includes Amsterdam-listed Signify; Norway's Optoscale AS; the Scotland-based Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC); salmon producer Loch Duart Ltd.; and SB Telecom Europe Ltd. With their combined efforts, the group is creating an 'open data' software platform that will provide a single point for fish farmers to interact with and understand the data produced by the variety of technologies being used on their sites.

Over the last 20 years, there has been significant growth in the number and diversity of technology used in aquaculture – ranging from fish health diagnostic tools to remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). However, the vast majority tend to work in isolation, which limits the value of data that can be taken and increases the amount of time required to monitor operations.

The pilot project will tackle this challenge by creating a single software package combining multiple data sources, offering insights that cannot be provided by existing systems. The initiative will also enhance the visualisation and transfer of data from connected devices and systems, beginning with Signify's underwater LED lighting system and Optoscale's AI-enabled biomass camera.

Aquaculture Insights is receiving funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which is part of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

Yosuke Kurihara, Project Director of Uhuru United Ltd., said: 'We are delighted to be leading the consortium on this important and ground-breaking project. We first established operations in the UK not just because it is a global centre for technological development but also because of its leading credentials in the field of sustainability. As such, this project is a perfect fit, using cutting-edge IoT technologies to best understand how we can maximise the efficiency of food production for a more sustainable future.'

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, said: 'Better access to insightful data could be transformative for aquaculture, helping the sector to be more efficient and sustainable, while also helping fish farmers to develop new ways of working. Aquaculture Insights could have significant potential for aquaculture, supporting its sustainable growth ambitions, which need to be underpinned by technological innovation and excellence. We were delighted to help secure Loch Duart as the farming partner for real-world trials of this innovative technology.'

Sven Kolsto, CEO of Optoscale AS, added: 'Joining this project is very interesting to us – we get the chance to work alongside excellent partners and we get to showcase our unique product used in combination with other innovative solutions. We look forward to learning what value we are able to provide to the aquaculture sector, together with our partners in the consortium.'

Find out more about the project, HERE.

Image credit: Aquaculture Consortium

Online Aquafeed Production School: Session 7 sees extrusion come under serious screw-tiny

As the Autumn edition of the Online Aquafeed Production School reaches session seven of twelve, this week's session focuses on the extrusion process within aquafeed production cycle.

With this subject dispatched with in the same level of detail that we have all come to expect from the Online Aquafeed Production School sessions, the organisers would like to remind any potential candidates that places are still available and all missed sessions can be caught up upon following the broadcast of the final session in December.

Split into four key sections, the first features a review of extrusion that utilises twin screw technology by Aquafeed Production School regular Joe Kearns, followed by a two part dissection of twin screw aquafeed production by Brian Streit, director of pet food and aquatic technology for Wenger Manufacturing.

Mr Steit covers two areas relevant to this topic -  twin screw extrusion and process control & automation, with each talk sitting astride the weekly five minute coffee break.

Like the previous six sessions in this edition, this one begins with a warm and welcoming introduction by long time industry publisher and journalist Roger Gilbert and Yiannis Christodoulou, founder/owner of Progressus Agrischools Asia, followed by two hours of live training, with proceedings brought to a close with a very thorough Q&A session.

The two hours of live training cover a broad range of topics from the world of aquafeed production including ingredients, equipment used, how it is operated and the desired final product specifications.

The aim is the course is to help you to build up an understanding of the design, development, and operation of an aquafeed production plant for the range of products typically used in this industry.

Subjects covered this week include ingredients, a general nutritional review, equipment used, and why are discussed, affording candidates the opportunity to understand the possibilities and developments over time with regards to what can be produced and how all aspects of the process interact for successful aquafeed production.

Organised and delivered by Progressus Agrischools and International Aquafeed magazine, each session is scheduled for the audience in Europe and Asia, each session is broadcast twice. The first is on Tuesdays at 9am (CET) for viewers in Europe/Asia, and the following Friday 10am (Chicago time) if you will be joining from the US/LATAM time zone.

Registration is now open and limited spaces are still available, for more information visit the website, HERE.

Garware fabric evaluted by Mowi to be effective against salmon lice

The Huenquillahue research center in Mowi Chile, Region X, has been analysing the retention capacity of Caligus rogercresseyi larvae for months on Garware cloths, which are to be used as a lice skirt as a mechanical barrier in salmon farming centres. The analysis considered the retention of larvae, the entry of these at different speeds of currents and fixation of copepodites to the fish. This resulted in a high-quality fabric that allows for the containment of infestations and the passage of water flow, allowing for necessary oxygenation in salmon farming centres.

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Garware fabrics to be used as lice skirt

The meshes were tested by means of sieves for the forced passage of the water flow with the addition of larvae in the nauplius stage (I-II) and copepodites. They were evaluated in three aspects: their retention capacity of C. rogercresseyi larvae, estimating the percentage of entry of larvae at different current speeds, and with fish to see the fixation of the copepodites that manage to pass through the fabric.

In this regard, the Mowi Chile health area noted that, 'The effectiveness tests of the fabrics that have been carried out, in conjunction with the Austral University of Chile, to combat Caligus, have brought good results and we are considering them for the non-drug management alternatives for the control of this parasite.'

The results of the study which were carried out by the Austral University, highlight the evaluation of fabric cages in a test channel for the estimation of permeability to the passage of the larvae. They registered a blockage of 99.6 percent of Nauplii larvae and 99.7 percent of Copepoditos larvae, so that they do not enter the cage.

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Evaluation of fabric cages in a test channel

In each case, the amount of water used was 340 litres with 3,700 larvae per test, totalling more than 133,800 larvae, where a flow of water was applied at current speeds of 0.5, 2 and 3.5 cm * s-1. Thus, the latest generation Garware X12 fabric is recommended as a mechanical barrier against C. rogercresseyi larvae, with its high-quality characteristics and allows the passage of water flow, without greater resistance at medium current speeds. This will be favourable, to maximise the natural oxygenation of the farm.

'The skirts in preventing infestation are a physical barrier that surrounds the fish tank cage. Thanks to the X12 fabric that allows the water to flow, this prevents the entry of lice. This allows 80 times more water flow than a common fabric for these purposes. The weave of the X12 cloth blocks the entry of the early stages of the parasite and promotes adequate water exchange,' Marcos Jofre, Business Associate at Garware Technical Fibres, explained.

'It is a non-pharmacological product, as part of the strategies to reduce the use of drugs, whose field experience shows a decrease in the frequency of baths of up to 50 percent, with a reduction of lice of up to 60 percent. Thus, we developed a three-dimensional fabric, with an opening of 80 to 150 microns for Norway, and a second generation of 60 to 100 microns for Chile, given that the local sea lice are smaller in numbers, thus generating a product applied to the national market.'

Caligidosis infestation is a growth limiting factor in salmon production globally, where the use of antiparasitic products has become less and less effective due to the development of parasite resistance. The global focus, then, has been on the implementation of new complementary non-pharmacological control methods such as tarps, in managing infestations caused by salmon louse.

For more information, visit Garware Technical Fibres' website, HERE.

Alternatively, visit Mowi's website, HERE.

Image credit: Garware Technical Fibres

Online Aquafeed Production School Autumn 2021 edition reaches halfway point

As the Autumn edition of the Online Aquafeed Production School reaches session six of twelve, the organisers would like to remind any potential candidates that places are still available and all missed sessions can be caught up upon following the broadcast of the final session in December.

This week's session focuses on the topic of 'Extrusion vs Pelleting: Production via Single-Screw Extruders' - with the subject dispatched with in the same level of detail that we have all come to expect from the Online Aquafeed Production School sessions.

Split into four key sections, the first features a review of the differences between extrusion and pelleting from Aquafeed Production School regular Joe Kearns. This is then followed by a two part dissection of single screw aquafeed production by Brian Streit, director of pet food and aquatic technology for Wenger Manufacturing, which sits astride the five minute coffee break.

 

Like the previous five sessions in this edition, this one begins with a welcoming introduction by long time industry publisher and journalist Roger Gilbert and Yiannis Christodoulou, founder/owner of Progressus Agrischools Asia, followed by two hours of live training, with proceedings brought to a close with a very thorough Q&A session.

The two hours of live training cover a broad range of topics from the world of aquafeed production including ingredients, the equipment used, how it is operated and the desired final product specifications.

The aim is the course is to help you to build up an understanding of the design, development, and operation of an aquafeed production plant for the range of products typically used in this industry.

Subjects covered include ingredients, a general nutritional review, equipment used, and why are discussed, affording candidates the opportunity to understand the possibilities and developments over time with regards to what can be produced and how all aspects of the process interact for successful aquafeed production.

Organised and delivered by Progressus Agrischools and International Aquafeed magazine, each session is scheduled for the audience in Europe and Asia, each session is broadcast twice. The first is on Tuesdays at 9am (CET) for viewers in Europe/Asia, and the following Friday 10am (Chicago time) if you will be joining from the US/LATAM time zone.

Registration is now open and limited spaces are still available, for more information visit the website, HERE.

Teesside University's new micro-bubble technology

Teesside University is calling on businesses to deliver a proof of concept to show the potential of their ground-breaking new micro-bubble aeration technology, set to revolutionise the farming of seafood. Developed at Teesside University and University of Malaya by Dr Faik Hamad, Associate Professor in Engineering and Dr Poo Balan Ganesan, Associate Professor in Engineering, this new technology utilises a generator to produce microscopic bubbles which release free radicals and boost dissolved oxygen levels in water. This allows it to cleanse itself of waste products and increases the productivity of seafood.

Wastewater contains harmful micro-organisms, from viruses to bacteria, capable of infecting animals or humans and leading to disease, reduced biodiversity, and lower food yields within aquaculture. Micro-bubble technologies offer a safer, chemical-free, and low-energy alternative to current water disinfection methods. Developing countries will be able to access this revolutionary technology; barriers to adoption are low and operating costs are expected to be lower than existing solutions.

Teesside University is using konfer – the free-to-use innovation brokerage platform operated by the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) – to find commercial partners with which to demonstrate their micro-bubble aeration technology. Konfer harnesses AI-powered, smart-matching technology to connect universities with relevant businesses, making it easier and quicker to develop commercial partnerships and maximising the impact of UK research capabilities. Thanks to konfer, Teesside University has already engaged in discussions with technology developer Nova Q, dedicated to developing sustainable technologies within agriculture, aquaculture, disinfection, renewables, and wastewater.

Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive Officer at NCUB, said: 'Teesside University's micro-bubble project exemplifies the academic excellence and leading innovation present at our universities across the country, deploying out-of-the-box thinking to reduce marine pollution and promote healthier aquaculture. As the country seeks to harness innovation to tackle major environmental and societal challenges, it is crucial that the relevant universities and businesses can collaborate easily, rapidly and in a targeted way, and at konfer, we want to do just this.'

Dr Faik Hamad, Associate Professor in Engineering at Teesside University, said: 'This project is incredibly significant, as it intends to reduce the environmental and health-related impacts of wastewater, with game-changing implications for the aquaculture sector. Water is essential to everything from agriculture to industrial processes; as the issue of pathogenic micro-organisms becomes more prevalent, micro-bubble aeration technology has the potential to tackle this issue in a way that is sustainable and safe. We are delighted to be working with konfer, who have provided us with simplified access to a network of thousands of businesses.'

Dr Poo Balan Ganesan, Associate Professor in Engineering at the University of Malaya said: 'At the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, micro-bubble aeration has been tested for aquaculture species such as marine white shrimp and Giant freshwater prawn. The investigations show significant improvements on the growth of the species (by 30 percent) and a reduction of food conversion ratio.'

For more information visit Teesside University's website, HERE.

Image credit: smalljudge on Flickr CC by 2.0

Cemre's collaboration with Hydroniq Coolers for largest live fish carrier

 Cemre Shipyard has awarded Norwegian company Hydroniq Coolers with a contract to deliver a marine cooling system to two wellboats the Turkish shipyard is building, including what will be the world's largest live fish carrier. Cemre Shipyard is building the two wellboats – newbuilds 76 and 77 – for Norwegian wellboat company Seistar Holding.

Hydroniq Coolers will supply its 'Rack' seawater cooling system to the two wellboats, integrated in the hull below the main engine room of the vessel, where it reduces temperatures in the ship's engines and other auxiliary systems through use of seawater. This is without taking up valuable engine room space and is a favoured solution for both vessel crew and owners.

'Our Rack seawater cooler is the most popular choice amongst the Norwegian shipyards that are building wellboats. It is becoming increasingly popular internationally too, with Cemre Shipyard being one of the international frontrunners who are very familiar with our technology,' says Jan Inge Johannesen, sales manager at Hydroniq Coolers.

Developed by the SALT Ship Design, the two live fish carriers for Seistar will be equipped with circular fish tanks. The vessels will be 69.9 metres and 110 metres long, respectively.

The larger vessel will have a storage capacity of 8,000 cubic metres and a deadweight of approximately 12,000 tonnes, making it the world's largest live fish carrier once completed. The smaller vessel will have a load capacity of 2,200 cubic metres.

'Some would argue that size doesn't matter, but everyone in the maritime and aquaculture industries will admit that it is always fun to be involved with the biggest projects,' adds Jan Inge Johannesen. 'We at Hydroniq Coolers are no different, and we look forward to delivering a seawater cooling system that is a perfect fit for these very different vessels.'

Hydroniq Coolers will manufacture and assemble the equipment at its headquarters outside Aalesund, Norway, and deliver it to Cemre Shipyard in Turkey.

Hydroniq Coolers is owned by Norwegian investment company SMV Invest AS.

For more information visit the Cemre Shipyard website, HERE.

Alternatively, visit the Hydroniq Coolers website, HERE.

Image credit: Salt Ship Design