Tasmanian company Seafarm Systems has commissioned shipbuilder Incat Tasmania to construct an aluminium catamaran, equipped with net cleaning equipment, for a leading operator in Norway’s salmon industry.
The purpose-built 15m catamaran fitted with Sea Farm System’s innovative MIC net cleaning system has been built for Stava Bat & Dykkerservice AS, from Haugesund, Norway.
The MIC net cleaning system is distributed by Sea Farm Systems, a division of Plastic Fabrications and is proving popular with the salmon and other aquaculture industry sectors, not only in Tasmania, but around the world.
The work boat was designed by Steve Quigley of the Sydney design firm One2Three Pty Ltd, and constructed from marine grade aluminium by Incat at Prince of Wales Bay, Hobart, Tasmania.
MV Lindoy (Incat hull 072) commenced construction in May this year, and recently completed sea trials with owner’s representatives from Norway attending. The vessel will leave Hobart at first light tomorrow morning, Friday 16 December and will depart from Melbourne for Norway later this month.
MIC (Marine Inspector and Cleaner) is an underwater remotely operated robotic net cleaning machine. It won the Innovation Award at the international 2010 AquaVision Conference in Norway. MIC is revolutionary in that it cleans nets in situ thus reducing operating costs. While there are others net cleaning machines on the market MIC is vacuum-based and removes the debris away from the fish which greatly aids in fish health and fish farm productivity. MIC cleans at about 1400m2 per hour with more innovations and speed coming with new models.
