Flume Tank North Sea:
Europe’s largest flume tank located by one of Denmark’s busiest fishing ports
Near the Port of Hirtshals lies a true gem for the blue economy: Europe's largest wave and flow tank. With a strengthened commercial focus and numerous awards, Flume Tank North Sea is now stronger than ever and is attracting attention from both domestic and international audiences.
At Flume Tank North Sea, a wide range of models of nets, trawls, fish farm cages, underwater equipment, and more are tested in Europe's largest wave and flow tank. The company has also recently won the 'Best Marine Technology Testing Facility 2025' award, presented by EU Business News. However, it has taken time to put Flume Tank North Sea on the world map:
- Although the flume tank has existed for 40 years, it has been relatively unknown. Since the North Sea Science Park took over the operation in October 2023, the market has had to get to know us better, and that takes time. But we can feel a big difference here in 2025. EU politicians, Danish ministers, and international companies visit us, and we take great pride in contributing to the development of the blue economy, says Mette H. Roussis, Business Development Manager at the North Sea Science Park and Flume Tank North Sea.
Flume Tank North Sea also offers an auditorium with seating for 60 people, underwater cameras, a net-making workshop, and a wide range of specialized software solutions for underwater tasks, calculations, and simulations.
Port DNA
- Our company has strong roots in the port environment, and that is reflected in our expertise. We are among the few in the world who can manufacture specialized models in trawl, nets, and seines, says Mette H. Roussis, stressing that the location at Port of Hirtshals is of high strategic importance for researchers, fishermen, and businesses in the local community:
- The old craftsmanship – net-making – is just as important to us as engineering knowledge, and we want to ensure that this craft continues to thrive moving forward.
At Port of Hirtshals, the immense value that the Flume Tank North Sea brings to businesses in and around the port is well recognised.
- Not many ports can offer these kinds of facilities, so it is a huge strength to have the flume tank so close to Port of Hirtshals. It gives businesses here in Hirtshals the opportunity to enhance their expertise, while the flume tank attracts potential customers and partners from around the world. This can open new and exciting doors for businesses here at the port and make Port of Hirtshals even more attractive, says Linn Indrestrand, Head of Fishery & Maritime Services at Port of Hirtshals.
Part of the North Sea Science Park
In January 2025, the North Sea Science Park took over the operation of Flume Tank North Sea. The new organisation was aimed to ensure the continued operation of the flume and wave tank, strengthen the commercial perspective, and foster collaboration with other organisations within the blue industry.
- DTU Aqua and Aalborg University are some of the organisations with which we have strengthened our collaboration since the new organisation was established in 2023. Additionally, we have seen our commercial approach bear fruit, and we look forward to welcoming even more Danish and international players and contributing to strengthening Hirtshals’ position as a key destination for the blue economy, says Mette H. Roussis.
Facts about Flume Tank North Sea:
The facility is owned and operated by the North Sea Science Park. Flume Tank North Sea is an integral part of the North Sea Science Park, which aims to promote the development of the fishing industry.
- External dimensions: 30 x 6 x 8 m
- Internal dimensions: 21.3 x 8 x 2.7 m
- Volume: 1.2 million litres of freshwater
- Current: Up to 1 m/s
- Auditorium: 60 seats
- Observation windows: 120 m² with full clarity
- Wave generator: Regular waves up to 25 cm, irregular up to 20 cm
- Equipment: Underwater cameras and video link
- Workshop: Net-making
- Expertise: Trawl, nets, seines, hydrodynamics, scaling models, calculations
- Software: CADTrawl (®Kurt Hansen), CATS, AwaSys, WaveLab, QualiSys