EMT CEO Randall Mount discusses the benefits of MAKs.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a third of the commercial fishing industry’s revenue has disappeared, subjecting the entire industry to vulnerabilities it simply could not prepare for.

Restaurant closures have had a huge impact on the seafood industry, social distancing protocols, and the need for safety measures, according to NOAA. Reports from the NW Seaport Alliance revealed that the industry is responsible for $ 1.4 billion in total commercial production, with more than 11,300 jobs and 300 commercial fishing vessels.

Microbial zone cleaners can help protect crews on board

The restrictions are finally starting to ease after vaccinations became available to the public. Several industry vessels, such as the Starbound and other Port of Seattle ships, are turning to new technologies as a method of protecting crews on board: Microbial Area Kleaners, or MAK systems.

The technology is owned by Extreme Microbial Technologies (EMT), which uses a plasma of hydrogen peroxide. Plasma removes viruses and other contaminants from the air and surface, especially in close-quarters living spaces like fishing boats.

“The Starbound, like most commercial fishing boats, has a quarantine room, sanitation procedures and even UV lamps in the HVAC system,” said the captain and managing partner of Starbound. Karl Bratvold. The issue of disinfection, according to Bratvold, has become even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2016, Bratvold oversaw and led a $ 45 million project to rebuild the Aleutian Spray Fisheries C / P Starbound. He extended the length of the vessel to 300 feet while adding a new fishmeal plant, plant, propulsion system and electronics. For 24 years, Bratvold served as Starbound’s captain and is now its managing partner.

Wanting better control over the health of his crew, Bratvold began to search for solutions. He soon realized that he needed more “active” technology, unlike the “passive” technology of UV lamps, which led to the creation of EMT.

Since the company installed the MAK systems in December, the overall health of Starbound’s crew has improved significantly. “There was not a single case of a cold on board. It was really amazing, ”said Bratold Innovation and technology today. “People are just amazed. “

“Viruses and other contaminants have always been a concern for commercial fishing vessels, which force crews to live together in tight quarters for weeks, if not months at a time,” said Randall Mount, CEO of EMT . “The disease can spread like wildfire on a boat and can cripple operations. “

He stressed the need to find better ways to protect the health of crew members more than ever since COVID-19 continued to be a part of our daily lives.

“Therefore, the adoption of MAK technology has grown incredibly rapidly, which uses plasma hydrogen peroxide to dramatically reduce microbes such as molds, bacteria, and viruses, including COVID-19” in an indoor environment.
Using hydrogen peroxide plasma, MAK systems search for and eliminate pathogens 24/7 in any indoor environment and are validated to reduce the concentration of microbes inside 99 % or more.

Mount says this type of technology is “particularly effective in areas close to a ship.”

Passive technologies only facilitate today’s newest viruses

“MAK’s cutting edge technology is recognized as a change for its active approach,” says Mount. Unlike traditional passive technology, MAK’s use of hydrogen peroxide plasma makes it state-of-the-art. The systems require very little routine maintenance and are customizable for any size indoor environment.

Filters and ultraviolet light are old fashioned technologies; these passive solutions require microbes to find their way into the technology, not the other way around. HEPA filters and standard UV systems can only trap or kill microbes that encounter the filter material or the light waves emanating from the bulb in the ducts. Even then, many microbes are too small to be trapped and pass through, or they move so quickly that UV light does not have time to adequately expose the body to harmful UV rays.

This technology, according to Mount, is publicly available to consumers and is often used in single-family homes and individual living spaces, in addition to a variety of industries ranging from food processors and restaurants to schools, doctor’s offices. and various retail businesses. stores.

“Businesses and individuals should expect to see improvement quickly in the form of fewer particles and less disease,” he continued. “The Starbound commercial fishing vessel reports that it has not had any health outbreaks since installing MAK technology in December 2020.”

Demystifying the disinformation surrounding air filtration technology

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies sought to protect products and processes, but are now focused on protecting people, primarily against misinformation. We asked Mount to help us debunk industry myths that are just plain wrong today.

Myth # 1 – Traditional air filters work great

Air filters and other passive technologies are not as efficient as users might expect. Rather than finding and killing germs, these passive technologies require the germs to get to them.

Plus, when changing an air filter, you expose everyone to the collected germs.

Myth # 2 – Put on hydrogen Peroxide in the air is bad

The hydrogen peroxide plasma produced by MAK units is completely safe for people, pets and plants.

Myth # 3 – This efficient technology must be expensive

Users of MAK technology are generally pleasantly surprised at the cost of installing and operating the equipment. When schools, businesses and other organizations consider how much they are spending on chemical sprays and other cleaning products, they quickly realize that MAK technology pays off.

Myth # 4 – Illness is part of the job

Diseases spread quickly in fishing boats and other restricted work environments. But, after implementing active hydrogen peroxide plasma technology, companies dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, illnesses among staff and guests.

The return of the 2021-2022 cruise season

This spring, President Biden enacted the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act. The law lifts the requirement that foreign registered ships traveling between the continental United States and Alaska must call at a foreign port.

Stephanie Jones Stebbins, general manager of shipping for the Port of Seattle, said the loss of the 2020 cruise season has already taken a heavy toll on the Puget Sound area.

“When Canada closed the ports… it basically wiped out our cruise season,” said travel expert Steve Danishek. He points out that the bulk of Seattle’s cruise business relies on ships traveling to and from Alaska.

Taking a closer look at the Port of Seattle, the Seattle cruise industry is playing favorably with the introduction of MAK systems.

“An increase in the number of registered ships to and from the Port of Seattle and the continental United States will only stimulate demand for MAK technology – even when COVID-19 is not an imminent threat, colds, influenza and other illnesses still exist and can be difficult to contain on board even large ships like cruise ships or commercial fishing boats, ”Danishek said.

Mount believes cruise lines can embrace active MAK technology. Technology helps prevent the spread of disease and reassure customers that indoor environments on board such as restaurants, theaters and shopping areas are protected and safe.

The bulk of Seattle’s cruise business relies on ships traveling to and from Alaska. With the 2020 cruise season closing, what can the cruise and commercial fishing industry expect as restrictions begin to ease?

“Like other industries, the cruise and commercial fishing industries are regaining capacity,” Mount said. “As businesses of all kinds seek long-term solutions to the pandemic, air and surface cleaning have come to the fore. COVID-19 has made us aware of a seemingly obvious problem: The quality of the air we breathe, like the cleanliness of the surfaces we touch, is incredibly important. “

Addressing President Biden’s recent enactment of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, Mount says any return to normal will increase demand for active technologies such as MAK systems, which have been validated to be effective at 99.9% against COVID-19 by the University of Louisville, Center for Predictive Medicine.

“The technology is distributed in the United States and other parts of the world as an added layer of protection in schools, nursing homes, restaurants, and a variety of other industries.”