User manual

Mørenot Aquaculture AS is an international supplier of equipment and services to the ocean-based fish farming industry. Traditional craftsmanship combined with extensive research and development, along with quality manufacturing means that we can offer our customer innovative solutions and the best possible quality, at competitive prices.

Mørenot AS is ISO 9001 certified and the group’s range of seine nets and mooring components are certified in accordance with NS 9415:2009. Our consultancy company, Aqua Knowledge AS, is accredited in accordance with ISO 17020 to carry out mooring analyses according to NS 9415:2009 and NYTEK regulations.

Further information: www.morenot.com

We are represented in Norway, Canada, GB, Spain, Turkey, Ireland, Iceland and China.

The company’s headquarter is in Ålesund.

Mørenot Aquaculture AS

Rasmus Rønnebergs gate 21
NO-6002 Ålesund, Norway
Tel: +47 70 20 95 00
Fax: +47 70 20 95 10
aquaculture@morenot.no

Contact information Scotland:
Tel: +44 1859 540 432
Email: iain@netservicesshetland.co.uk

Contact information Shetland:
Tel: +44 1595 880 816
Email: david@netservicesshetland.co.uk

Contact information Spain:
Tel: +34977743445
Email: acomas@morenot.es

Contact information Canada:
Tel: + (1) 250 286 3249
Email: crn@connected.bc.ca

Our products and service stations are certified by Aquastructures AS. We have internal and external audits performed by different inspection bodies several times every year.

This user manual describes identification of parts, transport, storage, handling, assembly, operation and maintenance of the mooring system and its individual components. For sustained certification it is of essential importance that the guidance and requirements described in this user manual are followed both during assembly and operation of the components.

The user manual is general for all types of mooring systems delivered by Mørenot Aquaculture AS.

The design of the mooring system on each specific site is based on a mooring analysis. Note that the analysis also may provide explicit criteria for the lifespan of components on this specific site.

Norwegian aquaculture legislation requires that all individual components to be used for mooring of marine fish farms are certified. Product certificates provide necessary information to ensure correct identification and use of the components. Mørenot Aquaculture AS issues product certificates for each mooring component. This certificate demonstrates that the product meets all statutory requirements.

The ID sign referred to in the certificate should be clearly visible on the component. The sign may be in the form of a piston or a visible brand label. If the sign is missing or damaged, the supplier must be notified so that a new ID mark can be provided.

Supplier / producer of the mooring system should be contacted if the following occurs:

• Changes in the environmental data that forms the basis for the mooring analysis
• Changes in net size or mesh size / thread thickness - beyond the basis of the mooring analysis
• Changes in the floating collar size / type
• Increased weight of the plumbs / sinker tubes on the net - beyond the basis for the mooring analysis
• Increased number of cages - beyond the basis for the mooring analysis
• Change in gross weight or surface area of the barge.
• Change in the location of the rock bolts / anchors
• Change in the configuration of the fish farm
• Change in the attachment points from the mooring to the floating collar

It is not necessary to contact the supplier / producer for standard maintenance or replacement of individual components when the new components are certified and dimensioned in accordance with the mooring analysis.

Mørenot Aquaculture AS provides the following product certified components:

• Shackles, thimbles and floating collars.
• Fiber ropes – 3- strand ropes and 8- strand ropes of PP and PE
• Anchors, weights and rock bolts
• Connection plates
• Chains - galvanized and not galvanized
• Buoys
• Flexilink grids or single straps

If a components certification is questioned, the supplier/ producer must be contacted before the component is mounted into the mooring system.

Additional requirements to general safety precautions for lifting and transportation

Flexilink^®

Chains

Shackles

Rock bolts

Anchors

Buoys

Connection plates

Installation methods and assembly of components will vary in relation to the type of constructions to be moored. The mooring analysis, as well as the requirements and instructions in the user manual from the suppliers of mooring and floating collars, must be considered during mounting and installation.

Buoys

Buoys shall be attached in the attachment point (bow) or to chains. The lifting eye should not be connected to the mooring. A shackle shall be used as the connector between the buoys and the mooring lines.

Weather conditions such as current, ice, frost, etc. may have an impact on the quality of the mooring and the installation, and should therefore be evaluated during installation of the mooring. During installation the weather conditions must be constantly evaluated with regard to safety and quality of the different components.

Current conditions must be considered during deployment of anchors to ensure correct positioning.

It is recommended to have enough room and space to keep a good overview of all the components in the mooring system. It is also recommended to have a storage place in proximity to the site where the mooring shall be installed, to ensure more appropriate planning and efficiency during installation.

It is required to tighten the lock nut on the shackle with a wrench or a socket set. A pipe wrench may also be used.

Nuts and bolts for mooring shackles have the following dimensions:

Other additional tools: knife, tape, mending twine, lifting straps and locking ropes (for instance 24mm danline).

Mørenot Aquaculture AS provides mooring to the following cage constructions:

• Circular plastic rings
• Steel installations
• All types of barges and floating docks

The following illustrations are examples on different configurations of mooring lines that can be used for all types of constructions. The chosen configuration must be based on an overall assessment of the requirements from the mooring analysis, the topography and characteristics of the bottom, lengths and angles of the mooring lines and requirements in the user manual for the floating collar.

Construction parts for moorings should only be connected to other certified components. The attachment points on floating collars / barges must tolerate the loads imposed by the moorings. The loads / weight on the attachment points are specified in the mooring analysis, and the capacity for the attachment points are specified in the user manual for the cage.

Note that the components attached to the cages must be sized to fit the dimensions of the cages. Also note that the material of the components should not have any destructive effects on each other, e.g. corrosion.

The owner of the mooring system is required to perform maintenance as described in the user manual and the product certificates. This is to ensure that the individual components and the overall system are in their best possible conditions during their lifetime.

The lifespan of the individual components will vary according to the loads that they are subjected to during the operation period. Therefore, the owner / user of the system should perform a risk analyses based on the characteristics of each individual site. These risk analyses will be a supplement to the requirements of the user manual/ product certificates, to ensure that all eventualities are considered.

The owner of the mooring system is required to conduct a risk assessment that covers both installation and operation of the mooring system. In this assessment all elements related to the specific site and fish farm shall be taken into account. The risk assessment should be based on a systematic risk analysis.

The risk assessment can, and should, lead to changes in the planned maintenance programs specified in the user manual. One cannot make changes that reduce the number of inspections or reduce the number of objects to be inspected. Individual risk assessments cannot result in increased lifespan of the individual components beyond what is specified in the user manual or in the product certificates.

For instance; bridle attachments that only consists of ropes will be more susceptible to sun and propeller damage than bridles with chains at the upper few meters towards the cage, and should be inspected more often. Also; special environmental conditions should be considered in the risk assessment.

The risk analysis should lead to a detailed inspection program.

Inspection intervals and scope of inspections vary according to the types of mooring systems installed at the site. Due to varying risk, inspection programs are differentiated for the following types of mooring system:

• Mooring grids with connection plates with 8 holes
• Mooring grids with connection plates with 12-16 holes
• Mooring grids with Flexilink
• Mooring for barges and steel constructions

Inspection programs are divided into 4 different types:

• Periodical inspection - should be performed at a fixed frequency and at fixed checkpoints.
• Main inspection - should be performed at a fixed frequency or following major changes
• Incident-initiated inspection – should be performed after events that may have led to damages or significant weakening of the moorings.
• Functionality test / inspection - should be performed if it is considered necessary to test the capacity of one or more components in the system.

For all types of mooring systems there is a requirement in the Nytek regulation to conduct an inspection with ROV or divers after installation and before fish are put out.

Those responsible for the daily operation, as well as external personnel, may perform the periodical inspection. The performed inspection shall be entered into a log, or otherwise documented, and deviations should be corrected as soon as possible.

The main inspection is a full review of the mooring system. It is an advantage if the inspection coincide with the fallowing period of the site. The inspection shall be performed by personnel with documented expertise and experience within this operation. The inspection shall be documented in a report and with photos showing that all the lines have been inspected. All deviations must be recorded and corrected as soon as possible.

If any of the components to be inspected are fouled, they must be cleaned before inspection.

Inspections should be made after the occurrence of incidents / events that might have caused damage to the mooring system or parts of it. Examples of events that should trigger inspections are:

• prolonged periods with high waves and / or current
• Short periods of extreme weather
• Suspicion that an anchor line has moved – change of the fish farms position
• Collision with boats
• Notification of suspected defects on components in the mooring system

The inspection shall be performed by experienced personnel - if necessary by ROV or divers. The inspections must be documented, and all deviations must be recorded and corrected as soon as possible.

Functionality inspections should be performed if one suspects that a single, or several components, do not hold the necessary capacity. Examples of this are:

• The chosen anchor type is not optimal for the bottom type and topography
• Missing or incorrect documentation of breaking loads
• Suspected defects on individual components

Testing of the components function can be done at the site, or at suitable test facilities. Mørenot Aquaculture AS must be contacted to make sure that proper procedures are followed when the tests are performed.

Based on empirical data, uncertainties related to the corrosion rate, UV exposure and abrasion, all mooring components supplied by Mørenot Aquaculture AS are said to have a general lifetime of 10 years. This lifetime can be reduced based on analysis of fatigue or based on risk assessments conducted by the fish farmers.

The lifespan can be prolonged if the components are tested in accordance with approved procedures. Mørenot Aquaculture AS can be contacted for details about this.