The new 'smart' offshore farm belonging to SalMar. (Image: SalMar)

SalMar receives first automated off-shore aquaculture structure from China

China state-owned shipbuilder China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) has delivered the first of six automated offshore fish farms to SalMar ASA, intended to help to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Norway's aquaculture industry.

Such facility is Ocean Farm 1, which CSIC chairperson Hu Wenming defined as the world's first offshore salmon farming equipment built on the same principle as semisubmersible installations used in the offshore oil and gas drilling sector.

Wenming also explained that unlike traditional fish farming facilities, the ocean farm embodies advanced technologies including automatic fishing, hydrological monitoring, deep-sea positioning and biological light adjustment systems.

Ocean Farm 1 comprises a slack-anchored, semisubmersible and rigid structure with a high degree of stability. It is intended for offshore installation in waters at 100 to 300 meters in depth. All fish-handling operations can be performed on board, without recourse to external service vessels or equipment.

With a 25-year lifespan, the facility can resist powerful typhoons and is able to cultivate 1.5 million fish a year. It requires only three to seven employees to operate and ensures a fish death rate of fewer than 2 per cent. It has more than 20,000 sensors and over 100 monitors and control units.

"It is highly possible for more marine production companies from countries such as the United States, Canada, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom to purchase such facilities if they can prove themselves reliable and advanced," said Dong Liwan, a professor at Shanghai Maritime University.

For his part, Wang Yu, president of research institute for offshore engineering products at CSIC Wuchang, pointed out that as the Norwegian government and companies are keen to drive deep-sea aquaculture to further prevent fish diseases and pursue sustainable growth, the market for intelligent marine aquaculture equipment is getting a big shot in the arm.

"China and Norway are highly complementary in their economic developments, with great potential in fisheries, shipping building, environmental protection and oil and gas exploitation," concluded Xing Houyuan, a member of the expert committee of the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
 
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