Crosby’s Legacy in the Aquaculture Industry

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production system in the world. Since the late 1960s, safety systems applied to these environments have faced increasing challenges. And Crosby products, accustomed to being used in hostile and high-risk environments, have always been present in this sector, only hidden underwater to secure fish pens and the seabed.

The safe mooring system

Safety is the key factor when designing a mooring system. Resistance to shock, fatigue and corrosion are distinctive features of the equipment, necessary when many farms are located in remote and inaccessible locations. These locations often have strong swells, as the faster the water circulates, the more oxygen is present, resulting in a healthier environment for marine life.

The farms are based on high-density polyethylene floating cage systems, which generally form part of a grid where the cages are moored together. A bolt secures the mooring line to the seabed. A series of shackles and chains connect to the ropes and to a connecting plate, where further shackles and chains connect to the buoy and cages.

The complexity of both accessing these areas and replacing underwater equipment means that they must be increasingly durable, safe and efficient.

Swivel bolts and connecting shackles

Mooring bolts are commonly used on rocky seabeds. However, two problems were discovered. One was that, when you have high energy sites moving the pens, a fixed bolt places unnecessary stress on the system; secondly, there is a risk of the chain becoming entangled with the bolt as the cages move.

To overcome these drawbacks, the swivel tie-down pin was designed so that it can rotate freely after installation. This unique feature allows the connection to rotate as force is applied, reducing stress and eliminating the possibility of chain entanglement problems, both during and after installation.

In the case of shackles, previously there was a choice between a lifting and a lashing shackle. Now, both features are combined thanks to a countersunk bolt that locks the shackle. And although its main purpose is to connect the connecting plate to the buoy with the chain, it can also be used for other connections between various components in aquaculture.

Ordering Crosby material through Rodavigo

We have included the Crosby PDF catalogue on our website, so you will be able to consult all the technical information related to this manufacturer from here.

However, if you want to order material directly from us, we have updated the Crosby digital catalogue in our B2B portal, so you will have more information about it.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please use our contact form, e-mail or telephone number.