Family-owned Dutch fishing company Ekofish Group has contracted Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam to build a new twin-rig fishing trawler.
The 32-metre vessel with 9.6-metre beam has been designed by naval architects Vripack in line with Ekofish's dedication to sustainable fishing methods.
Stellendam Operations Manager Eric Moerkerk said the vessel would have diesel-electric propulsion, using three generators lined up to a DC-Bus. The power plant will be supplemented by a battery pack.
"This will reduce the peak-load demands that are characteristic of the operational profile of fishing vessels," he said.
"The batteries can be used for short-term tasks at sea, and also while in harbour – removing the need to use the main engines. They can be charged in various ways; during periods of engine overcapacity or even capturing the energy created when the winches are paying out. These techniques are ground-breaking for the fisheries industry."
Construction of the hull will begin in Poland in the first quarter of 2018.
Damen Maaskant Shipyards at Stellendam will perform the outfitting, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.
