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The Vicusdt-guided project will focus on boosting energy efficiency for 27 longliners. (Photo: J. Fonterosa/Vicusdt)
Longline fuel efficiency to be optimised
SPAIN
Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 00:30 (GMT + 9)
The Galician company Vicusdt is participating in a national project to optimise energy efficiency aboard 27 Spanish longline vessels and to carry out a series of “energy audits” on those vessels.
According to a company press release, the initiative is guided by the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA) and is financed by the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the General Secretary of the Sea, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM).
The current situation of the fishing sector “shows the need” for this type of study, as a consequence of the “successive increases” in fuel prices, which began in the spring of 2004 and which continued into spring-summer of 2008, explained the Vigo-based firm.
The study will focus primarily on the cost of fuel, with the aim of contributing to the economic objectives of shipowners, while reducing the negative impact on the environment.
Fuel consumption represents one of the largest portions of the total cost of running longline vessels.
“It is estimated that reductions in fuel consumption will reach between 5 per cent and 25 per cent [in the least efficient ships], with the newly adopted measures,” said the company.
Vicust has subcontracted the firm Emenasa, which will help to achieve “economic, scientific-technologic and environmental objectives.”
The pioneer initiative is the first work of its kind in Spain to have such a large number of vessels involved and to combine the collection of data with analytical studies, on-board measurement and proposals for practical solutions in all fields, reports Europa Press.
Vicusdt is also preparing numerous reports with Galician shipowners to add to the improvements of energy efficiency in fishing announced by the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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