Seabotix - Press Release - September
2, 2004
SeaBotix News - LBV logs
over 3000 dives inspecting fish pens
Port Lincoln, South Australia is
one of the largest tuna farming areas in the world.
Dozens of pens are scattered throughout Port Lincoln
all filled with tuna that is farmed primarily
for the Asian markets. When there are millions
of dollars worth of fish in the pens it is extremely
important that nothing goes wrong.
Last year David Whillas of West Coast Diving
purchased two LBV systems specifically for inspecting
the tuna pens. David's job is to ensure there
are no holes in the nets to let predators such
as Great White Sharks in and that there are no
dead fish to contaminate the stock.
In the past pens have been inspected by dive
teams, but this is not only more expensive but
far more dangerous. West Coast Diving is able
to inspect more pens in a shorter period of time
and keep costs down. Operating often times seven
days a week for up to seven months West Coast
Diving is kept busy. Over the past two seasons
West Coast Diving has logged more than 3000 inspections
with the LBV. In a day David may inspect up to
twenty pens.
Logging as many dives as David does he has really
developed a fine tuned system for inspecting the
pens. With a small boat fitted with the LBV David
sets out early in the morning. He ties up to the
pen and throws the LBV in. David quickly maneuvers
the LBV around the pen looking for holes in the
net and dead fish "morts". If morts
are found David attaches a hook to the LBV, snags
the tuna in the mouth and up to the surface. When
all is verified to be okay out comes the LBV and
off to the next pen.
Reliability and performance are the key features
required to make ROV inspections work. "All
in all the size, power and reliability of the
LBV has made it perfect for this job where other
ROVs have failed" according to David. Key
features are the powerful brushless thrusters,
lateral thruster, 270 degree field of vision and
intuitive hand controller. Coming from an ROV
background David knows his ROVs and what it takes
to get the job done. There are now five LBV systems
in operation in Port Lincoln and the only ROV
used.
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