The second of a pair of trawlers, Prolific LK-986, built for Mark Anderson of Shetland fishing company 60 North and his partners Andrew White, Ryan Arthur and agent LHD has arrived home in Shetland after the long delivery trip from the Tehnomont yard in Croatia. The first of the pair, Copious, was delivered in January.
The two new vessels replace an older pair of smaller trawlers, and while they are expected to be able to carry out the same roles of single- and twin-rigging, as well as having the option of fishing as a pair team, the newer vessels are more sophisticated and incorporate a higher level of technology.
Designed by Macduff Ship Design, Copious and Prolific each has a 588kW Mitsubishi V12 S12R main engine driving a 3000mm Finnøy propeller inside a Kort nozzle via a Finnøy FK50 11.3:1 gearbox.
The triple rudder installation and Kort thrusters maximise manoeurability. The extensive work that the design team has put into tank and CFD testing of a number of new vessels has led to in an in-depth understanding on how the hull form can influence both vessel resistance and seakeeping.
‘This knowledge was applied to Copious and Prolific to ensure the crew would have a vessel that could handle the unpredictable and often times rough seas in their fishing area but would also have optimum efficiency to minimise fuel consumption,’ a Macduff representative commented.
The winch complex is from Rapp MacGregor and is driven by three hydraulic pumps driven from power take-offs on the Finnøy gearbox and electric towing pumps. There are three 14-tonne trawl winches located in the forward section. These have capacity for 1100 fathoms of 22mm warp, but are initially spooled with 700 fathoms of Brunton Shaw warp supplied by LHD. The winches are managed through a Scantrol autotrawl with a three-speed arrangement of 100%, 80% and 60%.
The twin 20-tonne split net drums aft of the wheelhouse are also linked into the Scantrol system. Rapp Macgregor supplied a pair of hinged pins which are arranged just forward of the stern openings and can be raised or lowered remotely, depending on the fishing method and gear in use.
Catch quality is of key importance and although Copious and Prolific are expected to be working short trips, the layout is designed to be able to support trips of up to ten days.
The fish are gutted and sorted into the two six-compartment cylindrical, selector/coolers from Carsoe, whch slot into a layout designed by Jim Johnson of JJ Measuring Systems. Each compartment can be emptied individually in any order to suit the optimal fish cooling. Once cooled, the fish are transported by conveyor to the fish access hatch and into the hold to a portable table with four workstations. The fish are graded, weighed and boxed with freshwater and flake ice before being stored in the 1100-box capacity fishroom.
There are two 2.50-tonne capacity Buus slush ice tanks in the fishroom, which work in conjunction with the pair of 4.50 tonne/day ice machines located on the main deck. The water for the system is supplied from the onboard fresh water tanks and a 2-tonne/day Alfa Laval freshwater desalinator fitted in the engine room.
Accommodation is arranged entirely at main deck level, with a changing area with deck WC and shower forward to port, accessible from the processing area. The main living area has two four-berth and two two-berth cabins, with a mess/galley and lounge area aft of the cabins.
