Americas News
New Fishing Vessel Design Drops Fuel Use 30%
A new "green" fishing boat for cod hook-land-line fishing in Alaska will reduce fuel use 30 percent, according to Blue North, the U.S. fishing company that ordered it.
Designed by Norwegian firm Skipsteknisk AS, the vessel includes diesel electric twin-bladed dual-azimuth propulsion and a molded hull that reduces resistance as it moves through the water.
It will also be one of the first fishing vessels in the U.S. to meet new Tier III emission standards set by the federal government, Blue North said.
It will be built by Dakota Creek Industries in the U.S. state of Washington with an expected completion date of sometime in the fourth quarter of 2014.
"One of our main objectives in designing and building this vessel is making absolutely certain that we move forward in a way that is environmentally sensitive and thoughtful," says Patrick Burns, vice president at Blue North.
"We recognize, accept and embrace our responsibility as stewards of sustainability in everything we do at Blue North."
In addition to its fuel efficiency, the boat will use hook-and-line gear and an internal haul station, and will process all consumable parts of the fish, all of which will allow it to avoid waste and reduce its environmental footprint.
"We believe we can implement significant processing changes that will make considerable sustainability and efficiency differences," said Kenny Down, Blue North's president and CEO.
Rising fuel prices have been a significant issue for the fishing industry in countries including the UK and India.
