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The Kochi-based Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) and the National Agricultural Innovation Project have jointly developed “the first scientifically designed propellers” for fishing vessels.
These propellers can substantially reduce fuel consumption in the fishing sector. The fishing industry is estimated to use up 200 crore litres of diesel a year.
The new design use new blade elements and manufactured prototype propellers. These can make an average reduction of fuel consumption by 750 litres a month by a vessel. The fuel efficiency achieved is 21 to 28 per cent.
Manufacturers of propellers for fishing vessels mostly rely on the ‘trial-and-error’ method for their designs, thus causing mismatch between propellers and the ‘hull-engine’ combination, leading to low speed-pull and high fuel consumption. The lack of standards for manufacture as well as material specification reduces the life of propellers.
When the expected speed-pull characteristics are not achieved, the fishermen increase vessel-engine sizes. Thus unscientific propeller design and manufacture lead to fuel waste and increase in operational costs.
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