The main purpose of a feed barge is to provide an efficient and reliable feed system for fish farming operations. The second purpose is to provide a safe worksite for operators.

1. FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY #2
Efficient and reliable feed system for fish farming operations - AKVA Group Feed Barges
A
KVA group is an international company with offices in a proud total of nine
countries including their head office in Bryne, Switzerland. AKVA is the
leading supplier of feed barges and has an impressive range of steel barges.
The feed barges that they offer are suitable for a wide range of sites and
climates; including inshore, offshore, arctic and tropical areas.
There are more than 20 standard barge models in AKVA’s Wavemaster
product portfolio, but there is really no such thing as a typical AKVA group
barge. Each barge is tailored to the needs of the customer, and the barge team
in AKVA group takes great pride in their ability to be flexible and solution
oriented.
According to Andres Lara, Barge Manager “AKVA group are experienced in producing high quality
barges, but at the end of the day it is the fish farmers who are out there working day in day out.” Adding that
“this is why we work so closely with our customers in the design process, because the customer really does
know best what is important to them.”
During the planning phase of development, AKVA investigate the intended location of use thoroughly to
ensure that the needs of the customer are met with the barge that they eventually. If the barges are going
to be exposed to a harsh environment for example, then the structural requirements and balance will be
carefully adjusted accordingly. Although they do their best to cater customer needs, no compromises are
made when it comes to calculations and structural design.
All of AKVA’s barges are certified in accordance with the Norwegian standard NS9415 2009.
But even with the strictest certification demands, AKVA group aim to be as flexible as possible
within realistic structural and financial limits, this is something that they pride themselves on. “Although
we are known to be flexible we always make sure all safety aspects are well taken care of and that all
certification criteria’s are met.” Mr Lara added.
All of the latest Wavemaster models are able to provide for the full spectrum of economic efficiency and to
a wide range of cage farming operations, with sizes ranging from 96 to 850 metric tons. These barges also
include the latest innovations in efficient feed handling, storage, logistics and personnel comforts to ensure a
functional and safe farm base for the crew.
The barges are delivered complete, fully self-contained with Akvasmart CCS Feed Systems, generator or
generators, control room, living quarters, safety equipment and all other optional equipment installed, such
The main purpose
of a feed barge is to
provide an efficient
and reliable feed
system for fish
farming operations.
The second purpose
is to provide a
safe worksite
for operators.
50 | January | February 2016 - International Aquafeed

2. FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY
as integrated mort silage systems, camera and sensor
systems. However, the giant Wavemaster 850 Panorama
is in a league of its own.
The Wavemaster AC 850 Panorama is the world’s
largest steel feed barge, with a holding capacity of 850
tons salmon feed and up to 12 parallel feeding lines. The
advanced feeding system and storage capacity is usually
the main reason why customers invest in this kind of feed
barge.
However impressive a feeding capacity of 850 tons of
feed may seem the barge’s storage can be depleted in as
short as one week. At which point a ship is required to
refill the silos. Feed accounts for around 70 percent of the
production cost in salmon farming, so feeding correctly
is number one priority.
These barges are truly a testimony of the scale and
complexity of modern aquaculture operations.
The 850 Panorama barge has 16 integrated silos with
the capacity to store 850 tons of feed. 16 parallel feed
lines are used in a ‘4 x Quattro system’ to distribute
feed to the cages. Sometimes the feed travels up to
200 m before it is dispensed. This is achieved by using
powerful air blowers.
Additionally, the blowers move air through cooling
channels to prevent overheating. A cleaning plug injector
is used to clean the pipes and make sure operations run
smoothly. The Akvasmart CCS has been the world’s
best selling feed system, for both land based and cage
operations over the past 30 years.
The latest and fully spec’d 850 Panorama barge to
Marine Harvest is a state-of-the-art barge, built upon AC
850 Panorama standard but designed and customised in
close cooperation with Marine Harvest to fully match
their requirements.
The barge is now in operations in Mid Norway, on
a site with a production capacity up to 7 200 tons of
salmon with plans to expand. No question the feed
system is of vital importance to a site of this size.
Tore Obrestad, Technical Manager at AKVA group
confirms that the AC 850 Panorama feed barge has
impressive specifications. “This barge has a feeding
capacity of well over 150 tons per day and a superior
quality feed system to go along with it. This is required
for larger sites; like the one in mid Norway”.
High feed storage capacity, advanced on-board
control systems for all the machinery and technology
are central features for Marine Harvest. However, the
feeding system is by far the most important feature for
them, operations Manager in Marine Harvest, Torbjørn
Skjervøy stated, according to an article released in
AKVANEWS, AKVA groups own news magazine.
“A large scale operation like this also require precise
process control in all aspect of the production, especially
feeding, so this barge is delivered with the latest version
International Aquafeed - January | February 2016 | 51

3. FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY
of AKVA connect to help them maintain full operational
control,” he continues.
Operational Control:
AKVAconnect is a process control platform with a system
that is designed to give the farm staff with a full overview
as well as control of all aspects of the operations through
different modules. Whether this is RAS (Recirculating
Aquaculture Systems), water treatment for land locked
farms, or camera and feeding control at cage farms.
AKVAconnect is fully scalable and therefore suitable for
all types of farm facilities, from the smallest local farmers,
to the larger multinational aquaculture corporations.
The video cameras on the farm sites continuously monitor
and transmit images to the control room. The operators
can then monitor the status of all the cages (controlling
both underwater and surface cameras) as well as all other
important areas of the farms and feed barges. This frees up
resources, increases efficiency and profitability; with the
feed remaining the biggest part of production costs.
Water quality parameters such as oxygen, temperature
and current are the most important factors that affect the
feeding in commercial fish farming. Overfeeding leads to
feed waste, possible pollution of the seabed and of course,
poor feed conversion rate (FCR). Underfeeding also leads
to poor FCR, as well as poor specific growth rate (SGR),
and prolonged production time. All of the above are
directly linked with overall profitability. With good enough
broadband you can actually sit anywhere in the world and
feed your fish, explains Obrestad.
So far, the released modules of AKVAconnect are AKVA
connect camera, AKVA connect feeding, AKVA connect
environment and AKVA connect barge control. “We are
continuously working to further develop and improve
the software and add more modules and functions.” Tore
Obrestad added. AKVA connect Barge Control is the latest
release.
This module was released during Aqua Nor 2015 and
allows the operator access to online feed levels for each
silo, as well as remote control of the silo hatches; thus
allowing feed loading without staff onboard the barge.
It is also possible to have tablets built into
the wall, with these tablets connected to the
same AKVAconnect system as the control room computers
the operators are afforded remote access to much of the
same information and controls. This allows those on board
to move around the barge without losing control of the
operations. With this set up, it would be possible to operate
the entire barge with just one highly skilled technician on
board.
Centralized Feeding:
The challenge for a larger fish farming company is to
attract enough skilled and specialised staff that can feed
the fish correctly and consistently at several different sites.
Every day of the year and according to the company’s
best practice experience. With this new technology, 4-5
such specialists can feed
20 different sites from one
location/control room.
With all the different
modules and possibilities
within AKVAconnect, and
all the technical finesse on
the different Wavemaster
barges any farm site is well
equipped for the future of
fish farming whatever scale.
Safety:
In order to manually shut
of air or diesel flow in case
of fire or other emergency
the barge is equipped
with manual levers and
stopcocks. Emergency
stop electronics boxes are
also installed with fire
extinguishers and 360
degree turning cameras
located all around each
barge. In other words, the Wavemaster barges are well
equipped in terms of safety!
Other features:
The barges also feature a crane with an optional remote
control, ensilage system, veterinary lab, feed selectors,
cleaning plug injectors, large garage, insulated machine
room, accommodation and a wide range of other optional
features.
AKVA group is growing and the barges are frequently
growing in size and production. Wide ranges of barge
models are available depending on site demands and
customer preferences. AKVA group currently manufacture
about 24 Wavemaster barges globally per year and they are
all different when it comes to features and customizations.
Every single one of the Wavemaster steel feed barges are
produced at shipyards in either Tallinn in Estland, Klaipeda
in Lithuania or Szczecin and Ustka in Poland.
Typically, it takes about six months to produce a barge
like the Wavemaster AC 850 Panorama, with an additional
three months if there is not a design already in existence
and a lot of tailoring is needed.
Image: All
of the latest
Wavemaster
models are able
to provide for
the full spectrum
of economic
efficiency and
to a wide range
of cage farming
operations, with
sizes ranging
from 96 to 850
metric tons.
52 | January | February 2016 - International Aquafeed