Havliljen has been granted two development licenses. Hofseth is the majority owner of the technology company Nekst AS, and the development licenses were originally awarded by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries on May 14, 2020.
Significant Technological Innovation
BAUTA Maritime, Hjørungavåg division, has built Havliljen, which was launched on Sunday. The massive structure will eventually be transported to Hofseth’s farming site at Vindsnes in the Storfjord, where it will be used for salmon production. The top of Havliljen will be lowered to approximately 15 meters below the surface using a hydraulic winch connected to a 270-ton bottom weight.
When the cage is submerged below the surface, the fish remain at a depth where the presence of sea lice is typically lower. This may help reduce lice infestation and the need for handling and lice treatments. A key element of the innovation is the winch system, which enables controlled lowering and raising of the cage. The solution provides increased stability, improved operational control, and reduced impact from weather and surface conditions.
Knowledge to Be Shared with the Industry
Development licenses are intended to stimulate technological innovation that can address key challenges in the aquaculture industry. The scheme involves significant investments in prototype and full-scale testing and requires that knowledge and experience gained be shared with the industry.
Hofseth’s Project Director, Ole Nordal, is pleased that Havliljen has now been completed and launched.
“The development licenses give us the opportunity to test new technology at full scale while contributing to sustainable growth in the industry. These solutions involve high risk and substantial investments, but they may provide important answers to how we can implement new technology and reduce sea lice pressure. The knowledge we gain will be shared with the industry — that is a clear condition of the license,” he says.
“We have already gained valuable experience with commercial deep farming at our Bugane site in the Storfjord. Havliljen represents the next step, where we are testing a new structural solution based on different technical principles. This provides us with valuable and comparable experience,” says Ole Nordal.
Local Suppliers Central to the Construction
Havliljen was built at Havila’s shipyard in Hjørungavåg and was launched on Sunday. Between 20 and 30 companies have contributed deliveries to the project, including local companies such as BAUTA Maritime, HG Teknikk, and Rørtek.
This is a project where BAUTA Maritime has been involved from start to finish, with strong trust from Hofseth. Founder and Production Manager of BAUTA Group, John Arve Sundet, describes it as an incredibly exciting and educational project.
“It has provided valuable professional development and experience for everyone involved. The collaboration with Nekst and Hofseth has been characterized by open dialogue, trust, and a shared goal of finding the best solutions. It is inspiring to work on a project where all parties are pulling in the same direction,” says Sundet.
The project involves significant investments in prototype and full-scale development, industrial design, and test production.
