LAYOUT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED

TYPES OF FISHING VESSELS

Trawler
The trawler is a fishing vessel which operates a trawl net. They range
from open boats powered by outboard engines to very large factory
trawlers. The layout varies depending on the type of trawler. The
general characteristics of stern trawler are as follows:
• Wide transom for more working space at the aft, with the engine in the
forward part.
• Large towing power required and hence a trawler is provided with
reasonable draft or displacement.
• The vessel should possess good buoyancy, stability & sea kindliness.
• Many large trawlers are provided with variable pitch propellers. Some
of them are provided with propeller nozzles also to give them more
towing power.
• The propeller speed is usually confined to less than 400 RPM at the
maximum engine speed; biggest possible diameter with
correspondingly low RPM, relatively low pitch resulting in maximum
thrust.
• Many modern trawlers are equipped with stern ramp to facilitate easy
handling of catch & gear, gantry for multiuse, gallows, winches, etc.
Drifter
Drifter is a gill netter operating drift gill nets. Depending on the
way in which the fishing gear is operated, these are designated
as bow pickers or stern pickers. The general characteristics of a
bow picker are as follows:
• The normal size usually ranges between 8-13 m length.
• A large cockpit is arranged forward where the nets and catch
can be stored.
• The engine is placed aft and fish hold in the forward.
• Power requirements are modest; maneuverability is important.
• Controllable pitch propeller is suggested for large vessels.
• Mizzen sail is often used in large drifters to keep the bow of
the vessel to the wind with the nets set out.
• Bow rudder is used in large drifters while drifting with the stern
ahead.
• These vessels may be equipped with a line hauler at the
forward on the starboard side for hauling the net, a net chute
on the port side for shooting the net and a simple roller either
on the gunwale or on the stern for easy operation of nets.
Purse seiner
Purse seiner is a vessel that operates a purse seine. The basic
design is influenced by the selection of type of net, system of
hauling the net, method of taking out fish from net and whether
the boat is to carry its own fish or it is to be carried by auxiliary
vessels. The characteristic features of the popular western type
purse seiners used in USA and Canada are as follows:
• Wide transom is provided to give more working space at the aft
• Fore foot is fairly deep to keep the bow from drifting unduly.
• The vessels have low free board aft for easy handling of gear.
The width of the vessels is rather more to have more
buoyancy.
• Rudder is placed beneath the counter to keep the net out of
fouling.
• Good speed and maneuverability are essential features for
negotiating moving shoals of fish.
• Very often these vessels are fitted with side thrusters for
maneuverability and to prevent riding over the gear while hauling .
• They are equipped with large mast and boom, purse winch,
purse davit, etc.
Long liner
Long liner is a vessel operating long lines. These are small
and medium size vessels not exceeding 30 m except tuna long
liners. The characteristic Features of tuna long liners are as
follows:
• Large displacement with deeper draft for going to far off
grounds.
• More space at the aft for handling the gear.
• Bulwark is provided with removable sections on both sides
for taking large fishes over the deck.
• A refrigerated storage room to keep bait usually at -20°C.
• Large storage spaces for fuel, fresh water, provision etc. as
the vessel remains away for a long time.
• Fish hold is located below the main deck amidships.
• Top deck house is used for keeping accessories like buoys,
floats, flag pole, etc.
• These vessels are equipped with a shooting tray on the aft
for shooting and a line hauler fitted in the forward of amid
ship on the starboard side to haul the lines.
Combination vessels
A vessel operating more than one fishing gear is termed
Combination vessel. The idea of operating a combination
vessel is to obtain maximum utilization of vessel throughout
the year. Examples of most common combinations are:
• Trawling and gill netting
• Trawling and purse seining
• Trawling and Danish seining
• Trawling and pole and line fishing
• Purse seining, gill netting and long lining
• Gill netting and seining
• Long lining and pole and line fishing
• The characteristics of the combination vessel are determined
by the requirements of main fish-catching method. Vessels
of any size can be :~;c adopted for combination fishing with
suitable arrangements and appropriate ~;?:compromise. A
good compromise is possible by having clear aft and forward
with engine and wheel house amidship. There are no limits
in sizes of ~ combination vessels. ",-eo
Carrier/transport Vessels
These are used for the transport of fish. Depending on the type
of fish carried, they are classified as:
• Live fish carrier
• Fresh fish carrier
• Iced fish carrier
• Refrigerated fish carrier
• The carrier vessels are especially used in fishing methods
like purse seining.
• They are used in the fisheries of Scandinavian countries,
Canada, USA, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, erstwhile
USSR and even in India (purse seine fishery at Mangalore).
• Specialized arrangements are provided for each type of
transport vessel depending on the type of fish and fish
products to be transported.
• They are similar to cargo ships in general characters with
large cargo fish holds.