During mid-term reporting the global pandemic resulted in the project team striving to maintain progress and at the same time keeping the project members safe by avoiding risk of exposure/infestation. Throughout the members of the team has managed to continue the work (e.g. working from home) and remaining healthy. The WP1 was completed ~on-time and budget, with very promising results from the prototype testing at NOFIMA. However, the duration of the overall project had to be extended with 6months(total of 30months). The WP2 is completed, although delayed and some activities not executed as planned, the key objectives of the DeBug project are met.
Based on the encouraging results from the prototype testing, the initial work of WP2 was initiated, focusing on maintaining schedule for the large-scale pilot testing onboard MV SealiceHunter. Discussions with a Norwegian farming operator was in final stages of negotiations regarding pilot testing on larger volumes of live fish in 2021 however stalled. The project continued and rebuild the system setup on the MV SealiceHunter, and in 2022 an agreement with a Norwegian farmer was reached. This work included getting approval from the Norwegian Food Authority to perform testing of the pre-treatment unit in combination with the new and improved delousing system.
The project team has, as part of Work Pack 2 “Large Scale Piloting and Validation” developed the first full scale Debug delousing system, including the following main activities:
• Designed and manufactured the respective unit components
• Prepared the MV SealiceHunter vessel for DeBug machinery installation
• Installed the DeBug full-scale system on MV SealiceHunter
• Performed testing and commercial delousing to document all parts of the system except the pre-treatment unit
• In Q2 2022, secured partner for testing the pre-treatment unit and obtained acceptance for final testing (as part of the Norwegian Food Authority regulations developing new delousing systems)
The many unfortunate events and small setbacks, that to a large extent could not have been foreseen or mitigated well enough from start, have in general been overcome. The system performance from the MV SealiceHunter is a clear demonstration of what the DeBug solution offers. The aforementioned setbacks mainly relates to the difficulties in obtaining a partnership for testing, gaining access to their fish health staff and veterinarians, and most importantly getting a license to perform the final combined testing regime (ref. Norwegian Food Authority). In the early stages of the project, in Q1 2020, the team experienced a dramatic change in appetite for supporting the development, as the pandemic imposing limitations for the operating units (farmers).
The project pushed on, with firm believes that all issues could be resolved, and continued the design and development of the full-scale system. This was also well founded by the results achieved as part of WP1 (documenting the effect from the pre-treatment unit at Nofima). In WP2, Skamik has worked closely with its suppliers to ensure timely delivery of all components and assemblies to allow installation of the system on the MV SealiceHunter. GRSS has worked diligently to utilize the vessel as part of documenting delousing system performance, building a network of clients to expand collaboration with, and building knowledge and competence of the full Debug system in operation. Close team effort in the DeBug project team has been essential in maturing and developing the new DeBug delousing system.
The project team has struggled to maintain scheduled throughout the project, specifically with respect to physical progress as part of WP. However, at present, all parts are in place with the full-scale DeBug system on the vessel being 100% operational.
Work that remains to complete as part of the DeBug piloting is scheduled in the next 2-3 months with our partner, relying on lice-levels to return above threshold:
• Staged testing on live fish with 150 fish, followed 10 000 fish
• 3 commercial pens
Once this is completed the piloting and full system validation is considered completed. The team, with the extensive delousing track-record and documentation (as included herein), proves the DeBug system on MV SealiceHUnter is ready for expansion. The DeBug partnership is already in discussions with potential new customers for building a new full-scale DeBug system on 2nd vessel (ref. “service model”).
Risk elements the team has delt with during execution of WP2 are summarized as follows; shortage of material and disruption in supply/logistical issues, high sick-leave in periods (vendors etc.), increasing cost of goods (misc parts and off-shelf components, such as pipes and fittings), and travel ban and limitations as part of the Covid-19 pandemic.
