The Simrad office in Spain has received a record order for 118 ITI systems.
The ITI systems will be used by the trawler fleet operating around a new gas pipeline, which is currently under construction between Denia, on the east coast of Spain, and Mallorca, passing through Ibiza. The ITI trawl systems are part of a complete package developed by Simrad Spain SL on request of the pipeline owner, the Spanish gas giant Enagas.
The package is Simrad's largest ever single trawl systems order. In addition to the 118 ITI trawl systems, the order includes the same quantity of Olex seabed mapping systems, Black Box recorders, JRC GPS gyros and Thyboron trawl door pairs. The Black Box recorders will log and transmit vessel and trawl data on a daily basis through the GSM network to a server based at Simrad. The total value of the package is close to Euro 8.5 million. A 30 year service contract has also been agreed as part of the package.
The route of the new Enagas pipeline takes it through valuable fishing grounds to the south of Valencia and the North of Alicante. As a result of this the fishermen require equipment in order to avoid causing damage to the infrastructure and their trawls, whilst maintaining an efficient and profitable fishery. Enagas also requires daily reporting of the movements of every fishing vessel in the area around the pipeline. These requirements together are the reason for Enagas supplying the packages to the local vessels.
"Simrad Spain SL is the company best positioned to meet the wide scope of Enagas' and the local fishery's needs," comments Agustin Mayans, General Manager, Simrad Spain. "The best way to provide the protection required is to know the exact position of the pipeline and have an accurate map of the bottom topography. At the same time, you must know the exact position and depth of the trawl and trawl doors. The only system that can provide this is the Simrad ITI positioning system interfaced to the Olex sea bed mapping system. This way each skipper will have full control of the net in a 3D environment."
To control the lift and landing of the trawl over the pipeline a set of Thyboron trawl doors was included as a part of the package. The stability of these doors is vital to make the 'jump'. A reporting system and help desk has been established at Simrad Spain for the administrative work. This office will collect vessel data and send reports to Enagas on a regular basis.
