New net washing vessel sets sail

The company, which is based in Campbell River, British Columbia, provides a range of services to the aquaculture industry, including cages, nets, moorings and anti-predator equipment.

Speaking tofishfarmingexpert.com, a spokesman for Badinotti Net Services said: “Since 2011, fish farming operations in British Columbia have been moving away from the use of [copper-based] antifouling paints to keep the nets clean on the farms. In 2017 most farm companies have completely eliminated the use of antifouling coatings from their operations.

“As a result the traditional business model for the net service business which relied upon dipping or coating of nets had to adapt and reinvent operations to keep pace. Badinotti Net Services added the department of On Site Net Washing [OSW] over three years ago to respond to our customers’ new service requirements.

“We believe OSW is a long-term sustainable business model and, although some farm companies are washing their own nets, internally for us OSW is our core business and focus. Consequently we believe we can deliver a cost effective service for the farm companies.

“The Bravo II vessel is the result of two years of research and planning based on Badinotti Net Services’ three-plus years of experience with OSW operations. We were looking to custom-build a boat for that would maximise efficiencies for machinery, equipment and crews.

Stable and safe

“We selected a Catamaran design to create a stable and safe working platform for the crews and machinery, including a crane as most operations occur at the farm sites as opposed to travelling between or to sites.”

The Bravo II was built over a six-month period by Armstrong Marine, which has bases at Port Angeles, West Virginia, and Swansboro, North Carolina.

Home comforts

Badinotti’s spokesman added: “The vessel is equipped with many features that allow for ease of maintenance and reduced costs for the machinery and equipment on board. For example, the vessel produces 750 gallons of fresh water a day which allows all of the net cleaning equipment which is run with saltwater to be soaked and rinsed on a routine basis. This will extend the life of all the working parts and reduce repair or replacement frequencies. Essentially the Bravo II is a self-sufficient vessel and is equipped for the crews with all the comforts of home.

“The Bravo II is a state-of-the-art OSW vessel and is the culmination of input from within our company as well as from our local contractors and Armstrong Marine. Our crews have also benefited from local external as well as in-house training to further enhance their capabilities as well as the success of the operations.

“This project has been a success in part due to the community involvement and support. Consequently, Badinotti Net Services Canada is proud to have been able to add to our investments in the North Vancouver Island economy and fish farm business.”