The first in the Damen Shrimp Trawler 2607 series has successfully completed its sea trials in the Port of Hamriya, UAE. Damen has designed the new vessel for the next generation of (sub) tropical shrimp fishing, with a straightforward, no-nonsense platform, easy to operate and with minimal maintenance requirements.
Damen set about the development of this design as a solution for the growing interest in fuel efficient vessels. Damen’s specialisation is in high-pull vessels with limited propulsion power, and consequently, lower fuel consumption. Examples include the recently delivered beam trawlers for Belgian owners and the well-known Damen Tugs. For those vessels, as with the Shrimp Trawler 2607, Damen applied CFD technology for optimisation.
This has resulted in the combination of a larger-diameter propeller with a high-catch nozzle, with a streamlined balance rudder and skeg to reduce fuel consumption.
The result, according to Damen Maaskant’s sales manager Pieter Louwe van Slooten, is a significant reduction in fuel consumption.
‘Before we began with the construction of this vessel, we undertook a considerable amount of research to ensure optimal fuel efficiency, while securing the power necessary for trawling operations,’ he said.
‘The effects were clearly visible during sea trials, when the vessel surpassed our expectations. Compared to similar vessels currently operating in the market, the Shrimp Trawler demonstrated fuel savings of between 20 and 25% – representing a significant reduction in operating costs. This is the result of the great efforts and commitment of the team behind the vessel, who can be justifiably proud of a job well done.’
The vessel’s efficient profile goes beyond low levels of fuel consumption. The design of the Shrimp Trawler is deliberately straightforward, ensuring user-friendliness, as well as reliability and minimal maintenance requirements.
Other changes on this vessel compared to its predecessors, have been made by positioning the engine room aft of the fishroom, shortening the propulsion line, without the shaft having to pass underneath the fish hold. The fishroom itself is located now under the deckhouse with a positive influence on trim of the vessel in different loading conditions. Processing and freezing of the shrimps now takes place on the aft side of the deckhouse, instead of the conventional layout with the plate freezer located on the aft side of the working deck, and this contributes to improved handling.
Based on Damen’s practice of building vessels in series, the first Shrimp Trawler 2607 is available with a short delivery time, and construction could be carried out anywhere around the world.
