NEWS

VICUSdt participates in a study by CEPESCA to optimize energy efficiency in 27 longline fishing vessels

The Galician company VICUS Desarrollos Tecnológicos, based in Vigo, has been implicated in a nationwide project consisting on energy audits of longline fishing vessels. The initiative is leading by the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA), to pursue obtaining an energy consumption profile of ships, and to obtain the development of proposed improvement solutions for energy efficiency. To do this, have the funding from the European Fisheries of the General Secretariat of the Sea.

The current context of the fisheries sector highlights the need for such studies because of the successive increases in the diesel prices, which started from the spring 2004 crisis led to the spring-summer 2008. In this point, the project that VICUSdt shares through a subcontract EMENASA Company, will help meet the economic, scientific-technological and environmental aims. Today, VICUSdt is also preparing several energy audits with Galician shipowners, in order to present them to the call for funding of energy efficiency in fisheries, convened by IGAPE.

SOLUTIONS TO THE CRISIS IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY

Fuel consumption is one of the most important items in the operating costs of such boats, so these audits are an important step to improve their balance. It is estimated that reductions could be achieved between 5% and a maximum of 25% (on ships less efficient) in fuel consumption, depending on the solutions adopted. This would indicate to shipowners that investment in ships more efficient and less polluting is possible and profitable.

Moreover, the solutions from this research will promote the technological and scientific progress of the industry, resulting in R & D projects. The actions proposed will allow reducing emissions of polluting gases such as CO2 and NOx into the atmosphere. During sea trials will be carried out direct measurements of gas emissions in the main engine to quantify its direct impact on the environment.

WORK PLANNING

Propulsion is the main energy consumer of the vessel. For this, phase hydrodynamic study of the propulsion system is considered vital for the energy audit. VICUSdt will perform this analysis with its advanced computer simulation tools.

Design of rudders, keels and propellers, will be taken into account to detect the degree of optimization from the viewpoint of energy and maneuverability (maneuverability worse involve slower maneuvers and therefore more fuel consumption). VICUSdt has extensive experience in this area, because of their participation in the "Investigation of new steering geometry optimized for increased energy efficiency and maneuverability on tuna vessels" (2008, partly financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation).

PIONEERING RESEARCH

It is the first study of its kind that covers such a large number of ships (27 ships belonging to associations ARVI, ORPAGU and CARBOPESCA) and combining data collection with analytical studies, numerical simulation, and measurements on board, adding further proposed practical solutions in all areas of the ship which affect energy consumption. In addition, staff has pioneered, such as in the simulation VICUSdt hydrodynamics.

The previous collaboration between CEPESCA, EMENASA & ARVI has allowed achieve the high level of coordination between them, making it possible to successfully tackle a job that demands a great deal of organization, given the large number of participating vessels. EMENASA provides outsourcing of VICUSdt, whose capacities for analysis of ship propulsion and studying innovative solutions are the key to the project objectives.

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