CONSTRUCTION, ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT OF A FISH CAGE WITH COPPER ALLOY MESH PEN: CHALLENGING WORK LOAD AND ESTIMATION OF MAN-POWER

Abstract

In the present study, a 150 cubic m net pen was designed as part of a collaborative research effort betweenthe International Copper Association (ICA-USA), the University of New Hampshire (UNH-USA) and Cannakale Onsekiz Mart University (COMU-Turkey) in August 2011. The fish cage was developed to supportthe creation of a small scale demonstration farm, located in the Strait of Canakkale, off the coast of Guzelyalitown in Turkey. The surface gravity-type, octagonal shaped fish cage was designed to have a diameter of 6m and a copper alloy mesh chamber depth of 5 m. The present study details the cage construction and systemdeployment of one fish cage utilized a chain link mesh net chamber with a copper alloy developed by Wieland-Werke in Germany, with reference to work load challenge and estimation of man-power necessary forthe partial and total work efforts. As a conclusion, one cage equipped with copper-alloy mesh pen was broughtto a final shape with the net chamber assembled and attached to the cage frame in 3 days and 90 man-hours.The HDPE (high density polythylene) cage frame was assembled by an outside company, therefore detail ofthe main cage frame is not discussed in this paper.