Sapphire is reported to be doing very well in different fisheries around the world.
Norwegian factory trawlers Ramoen and Sunderoy (6,000 to 7,000 hp engines) report that using Indian netting has cut their fuel costs and net manufacturers Garware-Wall Ropes of Pune says this is bringing in more gear orders.
Pravin Gogia, Garware-Wall Ropes’ international sales manager said that higher prices on fuel are increasing demands for Sapphire with customers looking to increase the panels made of Sapphire in their nets. The company says Sapphire netting has a high abrasion resistance which in turn reduces wear and tear making it easier to tow and so reduce fuel consumption.
He said that the company is expecting more orders from New Zealand as customers were reporting that “fishing is getting better”.
The Indian company said Ramoen and Sunderoy are towing Selstad trawls, with 520 and 444 / 155 mm mesh, using Garware-Wall’s 155 mm — 3.1mm Sapphire nettings in the upper panels and PE 155 mm – 4.0 mm in the lower ones.
Haakon Vederhus of Selstad says “usage of high-strength, high-performance Sapphire leads to fuel saving by making it possible to downsize from 4.0 mm std netting to 3.1 mm Sapphire. [There are savings] also because of its compact and hydrodynamic twine geometry. As well downsizing [it] enables [us]to use bigger trawls.”
Garware-Wall Ropes also says that shrimps trawlers in the Gulf of Mexico are using Sapphire while Danish fishing company Ocean Prawns has told them it is very satisfied with the results a year after purchase.
Garware-Wall Ropes also reports that its new, 42m long, Garware-designed and engineered drive stretcher machine is now operational at its factory in Wai in Maharashtra state, India. It said the new machine will improve production as it has higher capacity and its dimensions allow a much more uniform distribution of heat. Their knotless machine is also operational, and they have also commissioned the second part of their new 129m x 40m workshop.
