Razor shell dredger delivered

The yard says that although the vessel shares the same hull design as other fishing vessels built previously at the yard, the ground-breaking techniques used in the product harvesting and handling methods set this vessel apart.

The new vessel, called YE 118 Noordland, has fishing gear specially designed for dredging razor shells. It comprises a 5.5-tonne basket that is lowered over the vessel’s port side with an A-frame. Once in position, the gear is pulled along the seabed at a speed of 0.3 knots. A water jet pump loosens the sand on the seabed and this loosened mixture of sand, water and razor shells is then pumped on board. The unique design of this pump takes into account the delicate structure of the product.

Using apparatus developed by the client, the catch then is sorted to remove broken and empty shells. The sorted razor shells are then transferred to mid-ship holding tubs. To keep the catch in optimum condition, these tubs – 30 in total – receive a constant supply of fresh seawater from an additional pump system.

A ballast system was also incorporated into the vessel’s design. Making the vessel more stable in rougher seas, this system will allow the owner to continue fishing even if wave heights reach 2.5m.

“This is a very effective design in many aspects,” said Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam project manager Gerrie Maaskant. “Compared to the owner’s previous vessel, production is increased due to the efficient fishing pump set-up. The equipment we have installed also leads to improved quality of the product as there are significantly less broken shells.”