The cost of fuel has a significant impact on commercial fishing businesses in Alaska. To provide vessel owners with information to make decisions about how to improve fuel efficiency on their vessel, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) received funding from NOAA and partnered with the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), Alaska Sea Grant, Nunatak Energetics, and Navis Energy Management Solutions to conduct energy audits and collect data from more than 40 Alaskan fishing vessels between 2012 and 2017. This work resulted in the Fishing Vessel Energy Analysis Tool (FVEAT). The FVEAT combines data you enter with measurements from Alaskan vessels participating in commercial troll, longline, seine, gillnet, and pot fisheries to generate an energy use profile specific to your vessel.
Energy Efficiency on Fishing Vessels: Project Introduction (Module I)
This video discusses how to save energy and fuel onboard commercial fishing vessels. The video is a recording of a presentation made by Mike Gaffney to a room of commercial fishermen in Sitka, Alaska on October 29, 2016 during a luncheon. Please excuse the light background noise. Mike Gaffney works for Navis Energy Management Solutions and has the following credentials: C.E.M, C.E.A., C.P.Q. USCG Licensed Chief Engineering, Unlimited HP Senior Engineer. This is the first of five short modules. The full slide deck is available by contacting alfastaff@gmail.com or contacting afdf.org. In collaboration with: Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, NOAA, Sea Grant Alaska, The State of Alaska, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Southeast Conference, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
Energy Efficiency on Fishing Vessels: Project Introduction (Module I)
Energy Efficiency on Fishing Vessels: Propulsion Loads (Module 2)
This video discusses how to save energy and fuel related to propulsion onboard commercial fishing vessels. The video is a recording of a presentation made by Mike Gaffney to a room of commercial fishermen in Sitka, Alaska on October 29, 2016 during a luncheon. Please excuse the light background noise. Mike Gaffney works for Navis Energy Management Solutions and has the following credentials: C.E.M, C.E.A., C.P.Q. USCG Licensed Chief Engineering, Unlimited HP Senior Engineer. This is the second of five short modules. The full slide deck is available by contacting alfastaff@gmail.com or contacting afdf.org. In collaboration with: Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, NOAA, Sea Grant Alaska, The State of Alaska, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Southeast Conference, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
This video discusses how to save energy and fuel related to use of hydraulics systems onboard commercial fishing vessels. The video is a recording of a presentation made by Mike Gaffney made to a room of commercial fishermen in Sitka, Alaska on October 29, 2016 during a luncheon. Please excuse the light background noise. Mike Gaffney works for Navis Energy Management Solutions and has the following credentials: C.E.M, C.E.A., C.P.Q. USCG Licensed Chief Engineering, Unlimited HP Senior Engineer. This is the third of five short modules. The full slide deck is available by contacting alfastaff@gmail.com or contacting afdf.org. In collaboration with: Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, NOAA, Sea Grant Alaska, The State of Alaska, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Southeast Conference, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
Energy Efficiency on Fishing Vessels: Refrigeration (Module 4)
This video discusses how to save energy and fuel related to use of refrigeration systems onboard commercial fishing vessels. The video is a recording of a presentation made by Mike Gaffney to a room of commercial fishermen in Sitka, Alaska on October 29, 2016 during a luncheon. Please excuse the light background noise. Mike Gaffney works for Navis Energy Management Solutions and has the following credentials: C.E.M, C.E.A., C.P.Q. USCG Licensed Chief Engineering, Unlimited HP Senior Engineer. This is the fourth of five short modules. The full slide deck is available by contacting alfastaff@gmail.com or contacting afdf.org. In collaboration with: Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, NOAA, Sea Grant Alaska, The State of Alaska, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Southeast Conference, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
Energy Efficiency on Fishing Vessels: Refrigeration (Module 4)
Fishing Vessel Fuel Efficiency: DC & AC Loads (Module 5)
This video discusses how to save energy and fuel related to use of DC & AC Loads on board commercial fishing vessels. The video is a recording of a presentation made by Mike Gaffney made to a room of commercial fishermen in Sitka, Alaska on October 29, 2016 during a luncheon. Please excuse the light background noise. Mike Gaffney works for Navis Energy Management Solutions and has the following credentials: C.E.M, C.E.A., C.P.Q. USCG Licensed Chief Engineering, Unlimited HP Senior Engineer. This is the fifth of five short modules. The full slide deck is available by contacting alfastaff@gmail.com or contacting afdf.org. In collaboration with: Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, NOAA, Sea Grant Alaska, The State of Alaska, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Southeast Conference, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
Fishing Vessel Fuel Efficiency: DC & AC Loads (Module 5)
Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs)
Troll, longline, and gillnet fishing vessels which spend many hours with the main engine at idle while working the fishing gear are good candidates for a growing number of hybrid drive options. This document provides some basic information about conversions to hybrid drives.
Propulsion Opportunities – It’s common knowledge that slowing down or cleaning the hull can reduce fuel consumption. This document quantifies how much of an impact those measures can have, and presents results from some less established drag reduction methods like retrofitting a vessel with a bulbous bow.
Improving Deep Freeze System Performance – There are many types of freezer systems used on Alaskan fishing vessels—from hydraulically driven plate freeze systems to AC powered blast freeze systems. Hold conditions also vary widely between vessels. The following are some practical operational and equipment-related strategies to improve refrigeration performance and save fuel.
Engine Performance ECM – Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is a measure of the efficiency of an engine. It defines the amount of fuel required to produce a specified amount of work. A higher BSFC implies a lower engine efficiency.
Improving RSW System Performance – The following are some practical operational and equipment related strategies to improve refrigerated sea water (RSW) system performance and save fuel.
Improving AC & DC Electrical System Performance – The efficiency of the AC & DC electrical systems on a vessel depend on the efficiency of the alternator in generating electrical power, and the efficiency of the lights and equipment that use the electrical power. The following are some practical operational and equipment-related strategies to improve system performance and save fuel.
Improving Hydraulic System Performance – The efficiency of the hydraulic system depends on the condition of the hydraulic pumps and motors, and the amount of heat the system generates when circulating hydraulic fluid. The following are some practical operational and equipment-related strategies to improve hydraulic system performance and save fuel.
AFDF was awarded a grant from NOAA to further efforts to help fishermen reduce fuel costs on vessels.
AFDF collaborated with Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) to conduct additional vessel energy audits, improve a beta-version of an Energy Analysis Tool, finalize a fishermen-friendly online version of this Tool, and increase capacity in Alaska to conduct future energy audits and energy efficiency analysis.
On January 29, 2016, a presentation was made regarding the results of Phase 1 at the Young Fishermen’s Summit in Juneau. Vessel owners were also asked to volunteer to test the beta-version of the Energy Analysis Tool and provide feedback on its user-friendliness. This project is financially supported by NOAA Award # NA15NMF4270275.
