Wärtsilä introduces new vessel concept to the fishing industry
At the Nor-Fishing fair in August, Wärtsilä will present a new design concept that may represent the future of combined pursers and trawlers. The most important innovation is a gentle handling system, whereby the catch is transported from the seine into the tanks using cooled sea water without the use of a fish pump.
Wärtsilä Ship Design has more than 40 years of experience in the design of unique fishing vessels that meet high customer demands for operational efficiency, hull optimization, and operational flexibility. Based on this experience, and in close co-operation with Wärtsilä’s industrial design department, a new vessel concept for combined pursers and trawlers has been developed. The new ”Gentle Fish Handling Concept” solution will be presented to the fishing industry at the Nor-Fishing fair in Trondheim on 14-17 August.
“One of the primary objectives of the development work has been to improve the standard system for handling the fish taken on board from the seine. In our new concept we have suggested that the vessel be equipped with a device that transports the fish down to cooled salt water tanks without using a fish pump. This enables the fish to be handled more gently than with any other system we have previously seen on fishing vessels, and it will contribute to securing the quality of the fish until it is delivered to the processing factory,” says Trygve Eiken, a ship design expert in the Project Development & Naval Architecture unit in Wärtsilä Norway.
The President of Wärtsilä Ship Design Norway, Ove Wilhelmsen, emphasises however that the new seine system is still at the conceptual stage. “There are still detailed studies and calculations to be carried out in order to verify the validity of the solution. Nevertheless, we believe that it is fully realisable. By presenting the new vessel concept now we wish to enter into dialogue with the fishing industry. We hope that potential customers, the trade, and the suppliers of fishing equipment will give us feedback as to whether our concept is the correct way to go in the development of the pursers/trawlers of the future.
Another important objective for Wärtsilä when developing the Gentle Fish Handling Concept has been to improve the working environment for the crew. This has been accomplished by equipping the new vessel concept with a roofed over trawl bin located at the stern of the vessel, whereby the trawl will be taken in through a hatch in the roof. In addition to improving the working conditions and increasing safety, this also protects winches and other technical equipment from wind and weather. Another innovation in the concept is a separate floor over the bridge that can be used for recreational purposes, as an equipment room, or as an observation post should the vessel be used for research related tasks.
The Gentle Fish Handling Concept is based on an effective hull design that Wärtsilä has delivered to many customers around the world. The largest alteration to the hull is a new bow design. Together with the roofed trawl bin, this gives the vessel a distinct profile that is very different from traditional purser/trawlers.
“The emphasis has been on developing a clean and holistic solution that exemplifies Wärtsilä’s position as a leading supplier of integrated solutions to the marine industry,” says Trygve Eiken.
Every third ship on the oceans today is powered by Wärtsilä, and the company offers a range of ship power solutions that are relevant to the Gentle Fish Handling Concept.
“In the concept study we have not defined specific power solutions. However for a vessel like this, both Wärtsilä’s diesel mechanical propulsion system, and our hybrid solution that combines diesel mechanical and diesel electric propulsion, will be natural choices. Furthermore, I feel confident that we will be ready with a dual-fuel solution for LNG operations whenever the fishing industry indicates that it too is ready to invest in gas fuelled operations,” says Ove Wilhelmsen.
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2011, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.2 billion with approximately 18,000 employees. The company has operations in nearly 170 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com
Welcome to meet Wärtsilä at stand D-359 at Nor-Fishing 2012 exhibition in Trondheim, Norway, on 14-17 August, 2012. At this year’s exhibition, Wärtsilä will present its extensive portfolio of environmentally sound solutions, from ship design and propulsion solutions for newbuildings to upgrade possibilities for existing installations.