Sjótækni and the start-up company Hripa ehf. are now collaborating to test a new type of environmentally friendly epiphyte protection for use in the sea. The start-up company Hripa ehf. has, with a grant from the Technology Development Fund, developed a protection without any toxins, which can harm the environment and organisms in the sea. In collaboration with Náttúrustofa Vestfjarða and with assistance from the companies Arctic Fish and Egersund Ísland, Hripa has conducted tests with the attachment protection for aquaculture nets for the past two years and the results are very positive.
When the research vessel Kafari BA was launched in Njarðvík last March, the protection from Hripa was applied to certain areas below the sea line on both sides of the boat and it will be interesting to see how it works there compared to normal bottom paint.
Hripa has applied for an international patent for the epiphyte protection and various further studies are currently underway on the effectiveness of the epiphyte protection, as well as harmlessness towards fish and other marine life in collaboration with other parties in Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Sjótækni places great emphasis on minimizing the environmental impact of its operations and that the materials and products used by the company have the least possible environmental impact. It is therefore very positive and in accordance with Sjótækni's environmental policy to assist in the development of environmentally friendly protection, which is much needed.