The industry problem Setting priorities and directions Energy management

1. Reducing the production costs of commercial fishing in the face of a “Double Crisis”. Oil Deficit + Global Warming David Sterling • The industry problem • Setting priorities and directions • Energy management • Energy audits/industry development • Research • Alternative fuels and energy • Fishing gear and propulsion • Hull characteristics and efficiency

2. “What is the fuel crisis?” really starts with another question: What’s so good about diesel fuel? Answer: • Low cost • High volumetric energy density (36.3 MJ/litre) (1 litre of diesel has the combustion energy equivalent to the work of lifting a weight of 37 tonne to a height of 100 m - 37cars to top of 30 story building!) • It is a liquid that is safe and easy to store and distribute (high flash point, easily pumped, stable at room temp and pressure) • Wide ranging and flexible energy source due to well developed supporting technologies. Petro-diesel has become entrenched in commercial fishing. In fact the diesel engine was the “enabling” technology for the modern fishing fleets we see today.

3. High procurement cost is partly due to dwindling oil supply (“plateau” production rate), accentuated by rapidly expanding demand.

4. Three (+1?) broad components to fuel price • Supply chain price • GST • Excise - government tax, generally credited back to primary producers (in Aus) • Carbon “Tax”?? – Future tax to fund “balancing” carbon sequestration

5. Revenue Profit Objective: Increase fishing profitability • Increase revenue • Improve market price • Increase volume of production • Reduce operating costs? Costs

7. Fuel price to fishers has increased by3 times since 2004

9. Conclusions from the perspective of energy efficiency • Raise industry awareness, at the enterprise level, of energy management / development • Roll out energy audits to: • Benchmark industry performance • Gather information on factors affecting energy efficiency • Kick start cycles of enterprise level industry development • Undertake key research and development activities to support industry development, including: • Commercialise Batwing otter boards • Practically integrate "high strength" netting into commercial trawl gear • Seek improvements to course control systems • Improve motion stabilising equipment • Utilise engine waste heat • Investigate practical renewable energy sources from the fishing environment.

10. Energy Management System

11. Systemic changes Policy/Responsibility/auditing – Skipper Incentive Reduce fuel waste - Fuel monitoring

12. Energy Audits

13. What needs to be done? What is the purpose of fuel? • Reduce the unit cost of energy input • Reduce the amount of energy used (per kg of production) • To supply vessel propulsion. Why? • To move the boat from place to place. • To tow trawl gear • To generate electricity. Why? • To run electrical appliances • To produce light • To run large capacity refrigeration • To generate hydraulic power. Why? • To operate winches and capstans • To produce a source of heat. Why? • To cook seafood • To create hot water

14. Where does one start?Energy tree for Qld east coast prawn trawler Propulsion (70%) IC engine (98%) Point to point travel (20%) Tow trawl gear (80%) AC/DC electricity (25%) Electrical appliances (15%) Lighting (8%) Freezing/Refrigeration (50%) Input Energy Diesel (98%) LPG (2%) Run try winch (20%) Run auto pilot (5%) Hydraulic power (5%) Sea water supply (2%) Run trawl winches (95%) Capstans/anchor winch (5%) Heat (2%) Cook seafood products (95%) Domestic hot water (5%)

15. Where does one start?Energy tree for Qld east coast prawn trawler Propulsion (68.6%) IC engine (98%) Point to point travel (13.7%) Tow trawl gear (54.9%) AC/DC electricity (24.5%) Electrical appliances (3.7%) Lighting (2%) Freezing/Refrigeration (12.3%) Input Energy Diesel (98%) LPG (2%) Run try winch (4.9%) Run auto pilot (1.2%) Diesel (98%) Hydraulic power (4.9%) Sea water supply (0.5%) Run trawl winches (4.7%) Capstans/anchor winch (0.2%) Heat (2%) Cook seafood products (1.9%) Domestic hot water (0.1%)

16. Alternative fuels: • The dominant direction for fishing is to stick with liquid fuels • The bulkiness and expense of gas fuel (even highly compressed) is difficult - particularly for large periods at sea and remote locations • LPG and LNG are worth consideration, but expensive to convert and medium term benefits are uncertain. • Biodiesel is not an option because sale price does not contain an excise component that can be rebated. • Its feasible that production of synthetic diesel from coal and natural gas will become established to underpin and stabilise the price of a blended diesel fuel.

17. Engine Efficiency Data plotted from Baird (1999), “World Engines and Propulsion Systems” • Important research directions: • Lower speed engines are more efficient than high speed engines. • May be able to utilise waste heat (up to 60% of fuel energy). • Injection of small amounts of hydrogen or other gaseous fuels such as LPG may enhance combustion and efficiency.

18. Fuel efficiency in fishing context Prawn behaviour Fuel Natural environment Time Natural resources and services Propulsion system + Thrust Prawn availability Demand Hull and appendage drag Stock size Time management Human endeavour/ technology/capital Available thrust Fishing gear Marketing Processing Fishing gear NetsOtter boards Searching power Speed Span Revenue = Swept area rate X Trawling time X Catch efficiency X Local abundance X Sale price

19. Hull resistance 1.3kN(5%) Paravane resistance 0.4kN(2%) Otter boards 7.9kN(31%) Nets & wires 15.7kN(62%) Resistance components of a 22m LWL Success class trawler trawling at 3 knots with double-rigged 16fm nets. Total resistance = 25.3kN.

20. Contemporary prawn trawling rigs Going one step further? What is the effect of reducing twine diameter? What is the effect of improving otter board efficiency?

21. Polyethylene Dyneema(approx. 90 kg B.S.) (approx. 140 kg B.S.) Van Beeleen 1.0 mm twisted – single knot Trialled in SA, Qld and NPF from the mid 90’s. Hampidjan 1.0 mm braid, impregnated with Duracoat for increased stiffness – single knot (superseded) Trialled in WA and NPF during late 90’s. Hampidjan 1.1 mm braid, with mono-filament core for greater stiffness – double knot Trialled in NPF in 2005. Amikan 24ply twisted polyethylene – single knot (1.65 mm diameter) Extensively used in the ECTF. The above dyneema netting is therefore 50% stronger and has 35% less diameter. But is 8 times more expensive and has generated operational problems during trials.

22. Development of Batwing otter boards

23. Development of Soft-brush ground gear

24. Paravane resistance 5.4kN(23%) Hull viscous resistance 9.7kN(41%) Cooling pipes 0.4kN(2%) Wind resistance 0.6kN(2%) Hull wave resistance 7.4kN(32%) Resistance components of a 22m LWL Success class trawler steaming at 9 knotswith paravanes deployed. Total resistance = 23.5kN. Effective power = 146hp.

25. Hull characteristics and efficiency Short-Term Possibilities: • Optimal vessel operation • Retro-fit bulbous bow • Bottom cleaning regime • Appendage reduction • Aerofoil rudder • Displacement reduction • Low drag motion stabilizers

26. Hull characteristics and efficiency Long-Term Possibilities • New vessels • Hull form optimisation • New hull types e.g. catamarans • L/B ratio • Displacement reduction e.g. aluminium superstructure • Transom drag • Round bilge

27. Reducing the production costs of commercial fishing