The first of a new version of MLD’s controllable trawl doors is about to be shipped to Norwegian pelagic vessel Skipsholmen. These feature patented Spread Adjusters which automatically maintain the spread of the trawl, in addition to the flaps for depth control.
‘We already have more orders for these for fishing vessels in the Faroes and in Scotland, for delivery later this year and in early 2026,’ said MLD’s sales manager Torben Søndergaard, adding that they will be displaying doors with these new options at Danfish next week.
This means that MLD’s controllable trawl doors come with two independent sets of control flaps. The lift-generating flaps have been an key element of the design from the outset, adjusting depth and aspect of the doors during a tow, and coupled to the integral depth sensor that has beena feature since 2023, these enable the doors to be flown at a set distance over the seabed.
‘There are both demersal and pelagic trawlers making good use of this function,’ Torben Søndergaard said. ‘It’s a real advantage to be able to keep the doors at a precise distance from the seabed during a tow.’
The addition of the Spread Adjuster flaps provides a second level of control, enabling the skipper to dial in the required spread between the trawl doors, and this keeps the doors in position, automatically compensating for side currents, and for towing with or against the tide, to maintain the optimum trawl configuration \ while also ensuring that the gear can’t overspread.
