Ocean Exchange Finalists for $100,000 WWL Orcelle Award Named

The eighth annual Ocean Exchange, to be held in Savannah, Georgia from October 7 to 9, has selected the finalists for the WWL Orcelle® Award 2018. The award will be given to the solution that can make Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) operations more sustainable by advancing high-efficiency or zero-emission technologies that are commercially viable. This year’s finalists are from five different countries:

• Ashored Innovations (Nova Scotia, Canada) – Ashored’s MOBI (Modular Ocean Based Instrument) system is a bottom-bound ropeless fishing system that prevents whale entanglements and trap loss, where damaged traps become ocean waste.
• Blue Nalu (CA, USA) – Blue Nalu is a pioneer in cellular aquaculture, in which living cells are isolated from fish tissue, placed into culture media for proliferation, and then assembled into fresh and frozen seafood products.
• Coral Vita (Freeport, Bahamas) – Coral Vita’s land-based farms integrate new methods to accelerate coral growth, while enhancing resiliency to changing environmental conditions.
• Graphite Innovations and Technology (Nova Scotia, Canada) – GIT developed marine coating materials which utilize graphene to create a formula that protects ship hulls from corrosion and biofouling.
• Hoopers Island Oyster Co (MD, USA) – Hooper’s Island Oyster Co developed a vertically integrated oyster aquaculture system that provides new and established growers with seed, grow-out equipment, and processing equipment to support oyster-preneurs.
• Jolt Energy Storage Technologies (MI, USA) – Jolt developed a new and highly scalable battery technology where no expensive catalysts or selective membranes are required.
• MicroSynbiotiX (Cork, Ireland) – MicroSynbiotiX helps solve the current fish vaccine challenge by engineering microalgae to lock the vaccine in the biomass which is a natural part of the fish diet and an essential dietary element in the early development of shrimp and fin-fish.
• OceanComm (IL, USA) – OceanComm has developed a wireless underwater modem that offers communication similar to Wi-Fi, negating the need for tethered communication links.
• Osmo Systems (CA, USA) – The Osmobot integrates a series of well-proven photochemical sensors into a single, low-cost robust probe, improving aquaculture management and monitoring.
• Pajarito Powder (NM, USA) – Pajarito Powder developed catalyst and engineered catalyst supports for improved Proton Exchange Membranes in fuel cells and electrolyzers, facilitating energy-dense onboard energy storage of electricity.
• Sailing for Sustainability S4S (Suva, Fiji) – Drawing on designs of the one of the greatest innovations of the Pacific Islanders, the proa boat, and using modern materials, S4S created a low-cost cargo and passenger sailing proa for last mile connection to scattered island communities around the world, helping solve logistics issues and saving the culture of island life.
• ThisFish Inc. (British Columbia, Canada) – Built for the seafood processing sector, Tally is simple, user-friendly software that enables companies to digitize all their production, traceability and quality control data, using visual data dashboards and data analytics.

This is the first of two $100,000 USD awards to be given at the Ocean Exchange. The second is the Neptune Award 2018, which will be given to the solution that advances our understanding of the ocean and that helps minimize our impact on these resources, even while using them for human benefit, resulting in more resilient bodies of water, including healthy marine life and coastlines.