Fishing and Gear Technology

Unit 11 - Trawl fishing gear and operation

11.6.Stern Trawling

11.6.1.Gear handling in stern trawling

A number of basic methods after handling the gear have being developed and became associated with vessels of different size ranges. Although the method for gear handling may differ, the general layout of most of the vessels are similar. Small stern vessels are usually single decked with a transum stern, while medium size vessel have a full or partial sheltered deck. The large vessels, which have the capacity of freezing their catch at sea have full sheltered decks together with extensive superstructures. All stern trawlers are characterized by a wide, clear, working deck at the aft and a wheel house or living quarters forward. The engine room is usually forward of amid ship below the wheel house. Some medium sized vessels have the engine room aft with exhaust uptakes on each side of the working deck. The fish hold normally lies below the working deck or in the case of shelter deck vessels, below the main deck or amid ship so that trim does not change markedly as fish is taken aboard and stowed below.
The main winch is situated abaft the deck house or superstructure and the gear towed from gallows sited aft on each side of the stern. Stern trawlers offer two striking advantages when compared with other trawlers.

• Gear is worked over the stern.
• The vessel maintains a straight course during hauling, setting and pulling along the direction of motion.
• Most cases the vessel can therefore be headed directly into the wind and able to continue fishing under severe sea conditions than a side trawler.
• The working area at the after end of the vessel is much steadier as it is not affected by pitching. The forward deck house provides protection from pulling. Thus the stern trawler provides greater safety and comfort for the crew.

The main methods of gear handling:

• Use of quarter ropes
• Net drum
• Stern ramp
• Various combinations of the above

Equipment: for stern trawler winch should have at least two main drums and two warping heads. In order to ensure a working deck clear of running wires the winch may be mounted at forecastle level so that the wire run over the heads of crew members on the working deck.