NAFC MARINE CENTRE'S NEW WORKBOAT HAVRA PROVING VALUABLE TO BUSINESS

The adaptability and additional capacity afforded by the recent launch of the NAFC Marine Centre’s workboat Havra was evidenced again last week when the vessel deployed a ‘waverider’ buoy off St. Ninian’s Isle.   Fresh from conducting benthic survey work under commission from Shetland Seafood Quality Control, the large deck area and lifting capacity of the vessel was used to deploy the buoy to the specifications of the contracting client company Aegir Wave Power.  The buoy, which is approximately one metre in diameter, is now sending data about waves in the area to a receiving station at the Centre.   Aegir has also contracted the Centre to assist in monitoring and maintenance of the installation, which will stay in place for many months to come.

The Havra also provided a teaching platform for 16 students from the University of Aberdeen two weeks ago during their annual field trip to Shetland when NAFC Marine Centre scientist Dan Stone demonstrated how to deploy and recover a CTD water sampler, which measures salinity, temperature and depth at the same time, from the deck.  The vessel was also used as a lecturing platform for the students from the Tall Ship Gunilla who were taken on a tour of local fish farms and educated about the industry here by Kenny Gifford, the NAFC Marine Centre’s aquaculture vocational training manager.

This activity has been conducted alongside the more routine duties associated with maintaining the Centre’s research trials cages at the Lea of Trondra, which currently contain fish belonging to a local aquaculture company as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project with Shetland Aquaculture that is examining the use of Ballan wrasse as sealice cleaner fish.

Commenting on the utility of the Havra, senior development manager, Alan Bourhill, reported: “The vessel was specifically designed and built with a wide range of functionalities in mind.  We wanted a platform that could not only service aquaculture installations but also undertake survey work, deployments and other duties around Shetland that might be of benefit to industry, the public and the local economy.  The vessel is proving fit for a lot of purposes and we intend to add to this functionality incrementally.”

Head of Marine Science, Dr Martin Robinson added: “In the Havra we are trying to provide a vessel beyond a standard aquaculture workboat.  We are already investigating the addition of a sub-bottom profiler and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), which are likely to be very useful for local business.  All of the recent contracts to provide service show that the Havra is likely to be making a positive impact for some time to come.”

Director of the NAFC Marine Centre, Professor David Gray, summed up: “We are very grateful to Shetland Islands Council for the foresight that they have shown in seeing the potential from investment in the Havra.  The NAFC Marine Centre remains strongly committed to supporting the economic development of Shetland’s maritime industries and will be working hard to get the best value for money from this adaptable vessel.”

Further information:

For further information, please contact: Dr Martin Robinson, NAFC Marine Centre, tel 01595 772000, email martin.robinson@nafc.uhi.ac.uk or visit www.nafc.ac.uk

Or, Louise Rosie, Shaw Marketing and Design Ltd, tel 01595 692465, email louise.rosie@shaw-online.com or visit www.shaw-online.com