Over the weekend, the good news arrived: Aquastructures has given Marine Donut the "approved stamp," and the facility is now authorized for salmon.
Geir Andresen, a partner at Bluegreen, has been the project manager for the construction of the Marine Donut and has spent a significant amount of time in Molde this fall.
"The certification process has taken somewhat longer than we hoped, but it is also a completely new version of the NYTEK regulations that has been the basis. And we are also chronic optimists—despite engaging in pioneering work. Marine Donut is a highly innovative facility, unlike anything else that has been built before, and we have a great understanding that Aquastructures wanted to conduct very thorough investigations," says Andresen.
"Marine Donut is the world's largest polyethylene construction by far, and no one has done this before."
Aquastructures has examined all aspects and calculations, receiving satisfactory answers to their inquiries. Practical tests have also been conducted, including a stability test in a semi-raised position, which is the position used when the facility is emptied of fish.
"This is the most challenging position for the construction in terms of physical impact," explains Andresen.
"We were never in doubt that certification would come, but of course, we are both happy and relieved now that the 'stamp' is in place. Now we can build as many Marine Donuts as we want because the certification applies to all future facilities as well."
As most markets do not have their own certification rules, Marine Donut can be sold internationally with Norwegian approval.
Read more: Approval to Construct the Marine Donut in Newfoundland and Labrador
The next step is a final walkthrough and handover of the facility to SalMar.
"It will happen during the week," says Andresen. "Then it's up to SalMar when the fish stocking takes place. According to the commitment regarding development licenses, they are supposed to stock salmon weighing around 2.5 kg, which will grow in Marine Donut until they reach a harvest weight of approximately 5.5 kg."
