VESSEL REVIEW | Jesus – Deep-sea longliner designed for Tamil Nadu waters

Master Shipyard (MSPL) in Kochi, India, recently handed over a new deep-sea longline fishing vessel to the Department of Fisheries of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The all-steel Jesus was designed by India's Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) in fulfilment of a unique program initiated by the Tamil Nadu fisheries department. Under this program, which has been dubbed the Diversification of Trawl Fishing Boats from Palk Bay into Deep-Sea Fishing Boats, more of the state's fishers who have always operated trawlers in the shallower waters of Palk Bay are being encouraged to venture into deep-sea fishing grounds further out in the Indian Ocean, where high-demand fish species such as tuna are found in great numbers.

MSPL claims that the project proved challenging, as no other local shipyard has built vessels that were designed specifically for operation in the deeper offshore waters of Tamil Nadu. However, it clarified that continuous coordination with state authorities and local fisherfolk enabled it to develop an ideal platform for the task at hand.

Jesus has an LOA of 22 metres, a beam of 6.51 metres, a depth of three metres, a draught of 1.7 metres, and a displacement of 110 tonnes at full load.

The vessel is fitted with a refrigerated seawater system that is capable of generating ice at a rate of two tonnes a day while at sea, while the fish hold can accommodate up to 20 tonnes of catch. The hold consists of a stainless steel outer frame and a polyurethane interior to help ensure freshness of the catch until it is finally offloaded.

Jesus is powered by a Mahindra main diesel engine that has a rated output of 134 kW at 2,200 rpm. The engine drives a China Marine FD135A gearbox to enable the longliner to sail at speeds of seven to eight knots. A fuel tank with a maximum capacity of 6,000 litres will guarantee that the vessel can operate in the Indian Ocean for up to 10 days, making it possible for fewer trips to be made in order to fulfil quotas.

The suite of electronics and navigation equipment includes a Koden CVS126 echosounder, an Onwa KP-39 GPS plotter with AIS, and a magnetic compass.

The vessel also comes equipped with a gill net winch and a long line winch, each of which can haul up to five tonnes. Catch is hauled on board with the aid of manually-operated davits. The onboard equipment draws power from a 25kVa diesel generator.

The longliner features comfortable accommodations for a crew of eight to 10. The accommodation spaces also include a full-size galley, a pantry, and toilets.

Jesus was completed and delivered to the Tamil Nadu fisheries department in December 2020. As with the other newbuild longliners that were supplied under the diversification program, it is being operated by a private beneficiary to whom the vessel was given in exchange for 10 per cent of the total purchase price. Seventy per cent of the total cost was shouldered by the Tamil Nadu state government while bank funding handled the remaining 20 per cent. It is the project proponents' hope that this payment scheme will encourage more trawler owners and operators in the state to make the transition to the newer vessels.

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