Arctic Offshore Farming (AOF) is designed to operate in harsh weather conditions at exposed locations. The facility consists of two submersible cages and a feed barge.
The cages are made of a semi-submersible steel structure with a double net (outer net and inner net). Two flotation rings positioned one above the other with columns in between form the floating collar. When the facility is operated submerged, the top of the net structure is approximately 11 meters below the sea surface, providing protection against waves and currents. As part of the design, four air pockets are mounted along the inside of the lower floating ring. This ensures that the fish can fill their swim bladder even when the cage is submerged. Since the net system is submerged during normal operation, the fish cannot swim at the surface, significantly reducing the likelihood of sea lice infestation. Feed, power, communication, air, and dead fish removal are managed via an underwater hose connected to each unit.
The feed barge is equipped with a water-borne feeding system, meaning that feed is transported from the barge to the cages via underwater hoses and water pressure. Advanced sensor and monitoring technology continuously tracks environmental factors such as temperature, oxygen levels, and water quality. This helps ensure favorable conditions for the fish and improves fish welfare.