Marine hydraulic systems are meant to ensure the smooth operation of a vessel, and there have been some notable case studies and new products on the market aimed at helping commercial fishing operations run more efficiently, safely and reliably.
Parker Hannifin, longtime experts in engineering, motion and control technologies, delivers cylinders for steering applications on commercial vessels with Engine Monitor Inc., (EMI), a division of maritime supplier W&O.
Parker Hannifin, headquartered near Cleveland, Ohio, has offices and distributors around the world.
The cylinder division designs, supplies and supports hydraulic cylinders for EMI in steering and non-steering applications, Gene Chauvin, an engineer for the southern region of Parker Hannifin, explained in an email to Fishermen’s News.
“The cylinders can range from 2.50-inch bores up to 12-inch bores. They are part of the system for the workboat, offshore, towboat, tugboat and yachts industries,” he said.
Over the past three years, EMI has delivered more than 30 retrofitted steering systems with customized designs aimed at meeting space and interface requirements, the company has said, while also utilizing as much existing equipment as possible to save time and cost.
Single-speed, dual-speed and proportional systems are available, either off-the-shelf or custom. The electro-hydraulic design also can help with precise and responsive rudder movement, according to the company.
At Coastal Hydraulics, Inc., the family-owned business was built on the idea that it can help improve operations and work more efficiently by adding reliable hydraulic power and solutions that can “lighten your load, save time and/or save valuable resources.”
The company, now based in New Hampshire, offers a range of hydraulic components, like Gresen and Metaris hydraulic pumps, including gear and vane pumps built to perform and last.
“These pumps stand up to tough conditions and are ideal for a wide variety of applications, including commercial fishing boats,” they note on the company’s website, www.coastalhyd.com.
They also have electric clutches, pumps, motors, cylinders and valves to service a variety of industries, including commercial fishing.
Coastal Hydraulics, a major distributor for Pitts electric clutches, calls the devices the “most reliable, long lasting” hydraulic-pump-control and water-pump clutches available. The clutches are available in 12- and 24-volt, belt driven or direct drive, with 75-2,000 pounds per foot of torque.
Spooling Around
For certain fishing operations to be the most effective, experts from fishing products and services company Lindgren-Pitman notes that longline spools are an important component.
“These devices enable the deployment and retrieval of long fishing lines, making the fishing process more manageable and productive,” the company notes on its website, https://www.lindgren-pitman.com/.
While early fishermen used simple handlines and hooks, longline spools revolutionized the industry and allowed for more extensive and efficient fishing operations. Cutting-edge technology is now incorporated into modern spools, significantly improving both efficiency and safety.
The company notes that hydraulic systems drive hydraulic spools, which offer high power and efficiency for large-scale commercial fishing.
“They are the most robust and capable of handling extensive fishing operations,” the website explains.
Lindgren-Pitman’s new twin super spool III, 40 inches by 80 inches, is an innovative design created specifically with monofilament line in mind. The spool lowers stress when the line is stored by utilizing a larger 22-inch core and evenly distributing the pressure on the line.
“In the end, it means the monofilament will outlast line on other longline spools and reduce replacement costs. Lindgren-Pitman’s latest technology has eliminated welds between the end plates and the core to create a stronger longline spool with smoother hauling,” the company explained in a statement.
It features improved hydraulics, solid-cast aluminum end plates, level winder with guard, stainless steel shaft assembly, heavy-duty shaft bearing, heavy-duty formed tube stand and line-setter control.
New Solutions
England-based Armada Engineering aims to create “groundbreaking new solutions in hydraulics and engineering.” The company, launched in 1989, services hydraulic systems for the marine industry, covering design, manufacture, installation, testing and maintenance.
They are known for reliable, high-performance hydraulics for commercial fishing vessels. This includes net-handling cranes, net-hauling winches, pot haulers, hydraulic capstans, marine pumps and marine clutches.
“We can provide all the marine hydraulic systems that commercial fishing operators need to run their vessels efficiently and productively,” Armada notes on its website. “Our systems are extremely robust so that they can cope with the harsh operating environment on the high seas.”
They tailor the service to the individual needs of each commercial fishing customer and utilize a flexible approach to each solution.
The team recently shared a success story for installing complex hydraulic systems for a new fishing boat. Armada was commissioned to design, construct and install the hydraulic systems for a boat that C.Toms & Son boatbuilding was constructing on behalf of the North Devon Trawlers Association.
The hydraulic system impacted nearly every aspect of the boat’s operation and caused the project to take nine months to complete.
“This was a highly technical project that utilized all of Armada’s unique skills in marine hydraulics,” Technical Director Alan Rowe said. “The system had to be able to power and control three different types of fishing: trawling, netting and beam trawling. The hydraulics for these had to integrate seamlessly with all the other systems on the boat.”
The hydraulics were designed so that they could be proportionally controlled from the wheelhouse or operated by hand using remote wireless control, he noted. They built into the system load-sensing variable displacement pumps, in order to minimize heat and maximize operating efficiency.
Rowe explained that they performed the installation work as the boat was fitted with Spencer Carter winching equipment. They also installed a bow thruster and an integrated pressure-washer system.
Another notable project comes from MARCO, a global company that has been developing fishing equipment, deck machinery and hydraulic systems for the fishing and shipbuilding industries for more than 50 years.
The company recently designed and supplied the 279-foot (85-meter) f/v Adamas purse seiner´s new hydraulic system and deck equipment. It was delivered to Al Wusta Fisheries, a seafood processing company headquartered in Oman. The vessel has a beam of 46 feet (14 meters) and a fish-hold capacity of 1,800 cubic meters.
“The vessel is equipped with some of MARCO’s highest-capacity deck equipment models, enhancing the ship’s fishing capacity and facilitating the management of purse-seine operations,” officials said in a June 19 announcement.
On the deck is the model MARCO WS-586 purse-seine winch, which is one of the highest capacity such models in the MARCO range. The hoist has a hydraulic power of 850 horsepower and is driven by eight hydraulic motors, which drive three drums. Each one independently controls hydraulic clutches and brakes, automatic stowage devices, pneumatic delay brakes and two independent drives.
It can work in series/parallel and regulate speed in both directions, according to the company.
The MARCO Powerblock PB-78 has a drum diameter of 78 inches, is made of stainless steel with rubber cleats and is driven by two hydraulic motors. It also utilizes the company’s “Power Grip” system, which reduces net slippage during hauling.
Adamas is also outfitted with a set of auxiliary deck winches (topping winches, deck-and-boom winches, gypsy winch, etc.), including the anchor windlass, officials noted. The system is powered by an electro-hydraulic central unit with an integrated auxiliary system, ensuring greater operational versatility and minimizing potential system failures.
A triple-safety system is integrated into the main-boom topping winch MARCO W-1945KBT and includes a disc brake that acts directly on the drum, a locking pawl and a hydraulic counterbalance system on the motor.
“This system doubles the braking capacity compared to other models on the market, enhancing safety in lifting and lowering the main booms,” the company said. The winch is designed to maximize its durability and reduce maintenance costs.
The project also included an electric fish-handling system and Powerdavit purse davit.
Sara Hall has 15 years of experience at several regional and national magazines, online news outlets, and daily and weekly newspapers, where coverage has included reporting on local harbor activities, marine-based news, and regional and state coastal agencies. Her work has included photography, writing, design and layout.