Fishing and Gear Technology

11.3.1.Stern trawling

Unit 11 - Trawl fishing gear and operation

11.3. Bottom trawling
11.3.1. Stern trawling
In the stern trawling the wheel house is placed forward leaving the aft deck clear for the fishing gear and fish handling. Split winch is placed abaft the wheel house and each drum is wound with about 300 m of steel wire rope or synthetic wire rope. This forms the warp line. The entire warp line is marked at regular intervals. This marking is required to know the amount of warp line released during bottom trawling. Mast and derrick are provided just abaft the winch. Mast is used for hoisting the navigational signals and derrick is used to lift the cargo/cod end. Gallows with towing blocks are provided on either side of the stern deck part of the trawler. In large stern trawlers towing blocks are fixed on the stern gantries instead of gallows. A clear view of the aft deck from the wheel house is provided so that the fishing master can observe and ensure increased safety during the operations. Large stern trawlers are provided with a stern ramp which facilitate hauling up of the gear. In this case the transom of the vessel is cut and deck is lowered to form a smooth gradient up to the water level. Shooting and hauling of the gear are thus made easier and requires less man power. In large trawlers net drums are used to haul up, pay out and store the sweeps bridles and net with rigging.