Following his initial experience of the Pilothy project, a feasibility study into converting trawler Anita Conti to run on hydrogen, Loctudy trawler operator Julien Le Brun went back to naval architect Coprexma for another decarbonisation project.
The 17.50-metre trawler L’Amour de la mer (ex-Magali) is to serve as a technological platform to testi hybrid electric propulsion and equipment systems. The challenge for Julien le Brun, who already has nine vessels in operation and employs 36 crew, is to reduce the carbon footprint and dependence on diesel by reducing fuel consumption.
The Startijenn Up project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of existing decarbonisation options that can be integrated on board.
The vessel will be outfitted with two Caterpillar generators, providing power to the electric propulsion motor, the electric winch motors and for on-board consumption. Depending on the requirement, consumption will be optimised by running on one or both groups. 100% electric mode can be used for part of the operations.
Using electric winches means that energy can be recovered when shooting away the gear and a passive stabiliser will also recover energy produced by ship movements. This is routed to a battery pack which will in turn be able to route electrical power into the network as required.
This retrofit represents an investment of around €1 million euros, or a third of the cost of a newbuild, and is expected to result a 10% saving in fuel. Alongside this, L’Amour de la mer is being outfitted to also operate with passive fishing gears. This is a project expected to last from six to twelve months.
Coprexma has begun work on the HYBA project which is gathering data from the operation of Lorient fishing company APAK’s seine netter Naoned. The acquired data will be used as a basis for modelling and adapting different vessels using AI.
The further phase of the HYBA project is to replace Naoned’s engine with a smaller, more efficient unit, supplemented with battery technology adapted from the automotive sector.
The HYBA project, certified by the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique and financed by France Filière Pêche, brings together partners the Brittany Regional Fisheries Committee (CRPMEM), Vectura System, Piriou, Masson Marine, Marinelec, Le Drezen, IMT Atlantique, the Marine Academy, Coprexma and APAK.
