‘Kallista Helen’ ready for sea

Ocean Kinetics and ScaleAQ have just completed the installation of an innovative thermolicer treatment system on new multi-purpose vessel, the ‘Kallista Helen’

Ocean Kinetics and ScaleAQ have just completed the installation of an innovative thermolicer treatment system on Mull-based Inverlussa Marine Services new multi-purpose vessel, the ‘Kallista Helen’. The 26-metre boat, built by Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow is on long-term lease to Scottish Sea Farms in Shetland, and the work has been carried out at the Morrison Dock in Lerwick.

The boat has been designed to minimise fish handling and maximise fish welfare, with the bespoke thermolicer giving Scottish Sea Farms the ability to swiftly address sea lice levels, in order to maintain good fish health.

John Henderson, managing director of Ocean Kinetics said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with ScaleAQ on the design and manufacture of key elements of the thermolicer for Scottish Sea Farms, and are really pleased with how the project has gone. It is now fully tested and the system has proved to be very efficient and highly effective.

“The pipework has been constructed for a swift and smooth journey for the fish, and a sophisticated filtration and separation system ensures that the sea lice are not released back into the marine environment.”

Scottish Sea Farms Shetland area manager, Robbie Coutts, said: “This is the first vessel where we’ve built the boat to suit the system rather than building the system to suit the boat, and the benefits are clear.

“From a straighter, wider pipe layout that creates a gentler experience for the fish, to a bespoke shelter deck that protects the equipment and offers greater seaworthiness and crew safety, we’ve had total input from start to finish – led throughout by our engineering and project manager, Keith Fraser – on how and where everything should be.”

General Manager for ScaleAQ (UK), Graham Smith, said: “The whole installation process went extremely smoothly and has, more or less, been completed on time, which is always the critical part with such a large complex project. It was very evident from the start that Ocean Kinetics had the skillset and experience to be a strong partner for all involved in the whole process.”

John Henderson continued: “This is the most recent in a series of projects we have undertaken for Scottish Sea Farms in Shetland over the last while.  We have carried out a number of upgrades to vessels in order to maintain the highest levels of animal husbandry, all of which contributes to the continued smooth and efficient running of the company’s Shetland operation.”

Ocean Kinetics installed a three-lane high capacity de-lousing system onboard the modern multi-purpose service vessel ‘Helen Mary’. The design and manufacturing team worked closely with Scottish Sea Farms on the dewatering tanks, chutes and suction system, all of which were optimised to ensure gentle treatment of the fish while maximising throughput. The complete system is not only very efficient and operator friendly, it has been designed for minimal down time between cage set ups.

The team has also carried out improvements to the hydrolicer system onboard the multipurpose workboat ‘Voe Viking’. The system improvements included alterations to the water separator, fabricating and fitting new chutes and platforms as well as alterations to pipework.

In another project, Ocean Kinetics worked for ScaleAQ on the build and installation of a treatment system on board the ‘Helen Burnie’, also owned by Inverlussa and on lease to Scottish Sea Farms.

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