Ocean Kinetics to demonstrate installation of innovative treatment systems at Aquaculture UK

Specialist marine engineering company Ocean Kinetics will again highlight its standing in the field of aquaculture innovation when it demonstrates its installation of innovative thermolicer treatment systems at the Aquaculture UK show in Aviemore on 14-15 May.

The company, which now has bases in Lerwick, Aberdeen, Oban, Stromness, and Kirkwall, has successfully carried out a number of complex engineering development and installations for Mull-based Inverlussa Marine Services’s new multi-purpose vessels, which are on long-term lease to Scottish Seafarms and Mowi.

Managing director of Ocean Kinetics, John Henderson, said: “On the most recent installation, a new bespoke system makes it possible for fish to be efficiently discharged to any side of the vessel through a novel retractable bow chute.”

“The gentle discharge of fish forward of the vessel into a fresh empty pen ensures that fish are discharged as far away as possible from the fish captured in the sweep net. The retractable chute retracts and hinges to allow the vessel to steam in heavy weather and dock as normal.

“Aquaculture UK is the ideal event to showcase the Inverlussa development and the skills of our team,” continued John Henderson. “The treatment systems are not, of course, our only high-profile projects. We have recently constructed a new pier at Scottish Seafarms shore base in Vidlin, Shetland. Also for Scottish Seafarms in Shetland, we have undertaken an upgrade to the company’s processing facility in Lerwick, which involved the design and manufacture of new conveyors, pipework, shoots and processing equipment, as well as installing more tanks and storage facilities. The project has created greater efficiencies and increased throughput.

“We are also continuing to develop our new partnership with MMG Ocean in Ireland, and this is opening up new opportunities for both companies.

“Our aquaculture customers have been – and always will be – very important to us. We’ve not only worked with them for some 30 years, but many of us also came from the industry, so we very much understand the sector’s needs and always embrace any engineering-related challenges with which we are presented.

“We’re therefore looking forward to meeting with the industry, to hear about any engineering-related obstacles that they may be facing and, at the same time, to explain some of the more complex solutions that we have been working on. Over the years, we’re delighted to have delivered innovative engineering developments which have solved challenges in fishing handling in hatcheries, factories, and on-board vessels to underwater, offshore, and onshore installations, so this show is once again a great opportunity for us.”

Visit Ocean Kinetics at stand A65.