Fouling solution
Lindgren-Pitman’s innovative net cleaner Stingray E230 Series ROV removes all fouling, minimises fish stress and reduces CO2 emissions by eliminating 90% of conventional fuel consumption.
Through more than a decade of R&D working with various farms and an in-house experienced aquaculture specialist, Lindgren-Pitman Inc has introduced the most effective and reliable net cleaner available today: the Stingray E230 ROV net cleaner system.
The Stingray E230 Series aquaculture net cleaner is a completely novel method of cleaning fouled nets in place. It is all electric, with AC-powered architecture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly by reducing the use of diesel fuel while only using an 11-kW diesel powered generator vs the large generators required by inefficient, unreliable high-pressure saltwater pump cleaners.
The system relies on low-speed electric powered propellers with patented stainless-steel knuckles to implement “VibraClean” technology.
Multiple units per vessel multiplies work capacity
This innovation vibrates, scrubs and sucks to remove all types of fouling while allowing the biofouling to flow in one direction. This includes but is not limited to mussel, kelp and other difficult growth that high-pressure cleaners cannot efficiently clean, while still being able to clean the soft growth. Through the elimination of high-pressure water jets there is no stress to the fish from high decibel noise during the net cleaning, as documented by an on-site acoustic study. Extensive testing and real-world use have proven that these propellers and knuckles reduce wear on nets compared to high-pressure cleaners.
The patented “Safetrak” glides above the net. It comprises of smooth stainless-steel studs, mounted to flexible rubber stumps that bend over at a designed load to protect the net. The studs gently push the net to slide the Stingray over the net. The tracks also allow the ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to come partially out of the water to clean at and above the water line. The Stingray E230 is operated remotely via a corded remote joystick control and touchscreen with a four-camera video screen to operate and monitor the cleaning.
The Stingray cleans all types of fouling
The Stingray E230 in situ net cleaner, designed and fabricated in Pompano Beach, Florida (USA), has been working continuously in the Chilean market, cleaning where other net cleaners could not succeed. On any non-metallic net, the patented technology and all-electric ROV has proven that biofouling including hard mussel and kelp growth can be removed without additional stress on the net and counter-intuitively using significantly less fuel.
With the following innovations of the Stingray E230 series net cleaner, Lindgren-Pitman offers a more efficient, environmentally, net and fish friendly net-cleaning option to the aquaculture industry.
• 90% reduction in diesel fuel consumption vs high-pressure jet net cleaners
– All electric AC power
– Variable speed DC motors
– No large diesel-powered pump
• Patented VibraClean” Propellers and Knuckles (US Patent plus foreign No. US 11,116,188 B2)
• Patented “Safetrak” Tracks cannot damage nets (US Patent Pending plus foreign No. US 2021/0245205 A1)
• Small footprint allows multiple Stingrays on current vessels
• No scheduled maintenance
• Two-metre cleaning width
• Cleans all fouling at a fraction of the cost
