AUSTRALIAN SALMON FARMING GETS NEW FALCON TECHNOLOG

AUSTRALIAN SALMON FARMING GETS NEW FALCON TECHNOLOGY

The largest majority privately owned producer of fresh salmon in Australia, Huon Aquaculture, has ordered a second Saab Seaeye Falcon underwater e-robotic vehicle.

Their newest Falcon is now enhanced with Saab Seaeye’s iCON behaviour-based intelligent control architecture.

This is an important new resource for Huon as iCON makes possible the option of intelligent station-keeping and precise positioning that helps reduce operator workload by allowing them to concentrate on the task in hand.

Huon’s main use of the Falcons is to inspect the nets, rigging and moorings in their aquaculture pens.

“The key reason we decided to purchase a second Falcon is its reliability and Saab Seaeye’s excellent after sales support,” says Huon’s business development manager, James Bender.

Shea Cameron, Huon’s subsea manager adds that the first Falcon has worked tirelessly for 1000s of hours. “We like the low height of the machine because we can deploy it sideways between a walkway and the net,” he says. “The SIMCT thrusters are also ideal for aquaculture use with no shaft seals to service or inspect. None of the other machines we own at the moment have this advantage. We also like the ease of servicing the machine so feel comfortable ordering a new one with iCON that is compatible with our current machine.”

Introducing advanced underwater robotic vehicle systems to their aquaculture operation aligns with Huon’s continued introduction of new technologies and developments at their three locations, including adding well-boats and larger pens.

The key reason we decided to purchase a
second Falcon is its reliability and Saab
Seaeye’s excellent after sales support
James Bender
Business Development Manager, Huon

The Falcon will help Huon continue leading the way in environmental and business standards, says the company, which was founded in 1986 and prides itself on being first to take the process from whole fresh fish to smoked packaged product as well as creating some of the freshest salmon products in the world.

By picking the Falcon concept, Huon has chosen the most popular vehicle of its class in the world with a success record in the global aquaculture sector for over 12 years.

For aquaculture work, the Falcon’s winning design has the power and manoeuvrability to operate with precision amongst large and deep nets and in strong crosscurrents.

The design also allows a wide range of equipment for many different tasks to be easily added and changed on a system that is simple and easy to operate.

The Falcon’s global success comes from having packed five powerful thrusters and an intelligent distributed control system in a compact 1 x 0.5 x 0.6 metre versatile system that has been proven worldwide since 2002.

Falcon is at the leading edge of Huon's developments in advancing the use of technology in aquaculture. Falcon is at the leading edge of Huon's developments in advancing the use of technology in aquaculture.
Falcon is at the leading edge of Huon’s developments in advancing the use of technology in aquaculture.

Saab Seaeye is the world’s leading underwater e‐robotics company, with the most advanced range of tethered, autonomous and hybrid electric robotic systems, engineered to address the diverse range of tasks found across commercial, defence and scientific markets.

Huon Aquaculture, founded in 1986 is the largest privately owned producer of salmon in Australia and a leader in environmental and business standards aimed at creating the freshest salmon products in the world.

For more information contact:

Matt Bates
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000
Matt.Bates@saabgroup.com
www.seaeye.com
James Bender
Huon Aquaculture Group Ltd
+ 61 (0) 3 6295 8111
jbender@huonaqua.com.au
www.huonaqua.com.au