In 2020, RapiD Engineering became involved in a unique project: optimizing the processing of fish directly on board a fishing vessel. The goal was to shorten the cold chain and speed up the sorting process, thereby preserving the freshness of the fish as much as possible.

The faster fish is cooled after being caught, the better the quality and food safety. By integrating the sorting process directly on board, the fish no longer needs to be taken to the auction after unloading but can be sold immediately. This means fewer intermediate steps, reduced risk of bacterial growth, and a fresher end product.

For this project, RapiD was asked to provide a camera solution and software. However, a standard solution proved inadequate for the harsh conditions on board: water, salt, high-pressure cleaning, and chemicals. Where others gave up, RapiD Engineering took matters into its own hands.

We developed a custom camera system in a robust housing and built our own software: RapiD Vision. The system can automatically sort plaice by length, similar to the process used at fish auctions.

After successful tests on shore, the system has now been in use at sea for several years — to the full satisfaction of the crew.