Norway Expanding Aquaculture with Saab Seaeye Falcon

Norway’s growing aquaculture industry will see the world-leading Saab Seaeye Falcon robotic vehicle take on an extended role following the merger of two major aquaculture support companies, KB Dykk and AQS.

With 23 service vessels and over 60 divers, the new enlarged grouping becomes the second biggest aquaculture support organisation in Norway, and the country’s largest diving operation.

Ola Krylstad, managing director of KB Dykk, said he chose his Falcons, the world’s top selling robotic vehicle in its class, because, “We heard very good things about the Falcon”.

Falcon, a world-leading robotic system of its class, can be fitted with various tooling skids ready to undertake a wide range of tasks.

He particularly likes that it is easy to maintain, and with no thruster shaft seals to service or inspect it is ideal for aquaculture operations.

He also welcomes the added diver safety and efficiency the Falcon brings to diving operations.

It can reduce dive time and improve safety by pinpointing and examining locations of interest before the diver goes down, then during the diving operation, keep a watchful eye – and save more dive time by transporting tools and parts back and forth.

Importantly, the Falcon can go places too hazardous for divers, where the depth of water and strength of current are too dangerous for them to operate.

Along with diver support, Ola Krylstad explains that his 300m and 1000m depth rated Falcons undertake a range of tasks including inspecting nets, moorings and floats.

Having operated in the aquaculture sector for 12 years, the Falcon is renowned for its reliability and an intelligent control system that makes ‘plug and play’ configuration easy for undertaking a wide range of tasks.

This intelligent control, matched with its five powerful thrusters, brings precise manoeuvrability along with an ability to hold steady in turbulent waters and strong currents whilst undertaking delicate or robust tasks around nets and moorings.