FAO-SEAFDEC/TD Energy Audits Project for Thai Trawlers (Phase II)

Abstract

Fluctuation fuel costs and raising environmental impacts from fishery activities, FAO and SEAFDEC/TD are recognizing on recent situation and have set up an energy audits project that target to improve energy efficiency on commercial fishing vessels resulting declining green house gas emission relieved into atmosphere for three years ago. Thai local trawler is a first target to be measured and analysis their fuel consumption pattern for fuel optimization. From energy audit results indicate that large trawler consumes fuel more than small and medium trawl fishing boats nearly two or three times at maximum fuel consumption rate and their fuel consumption rate at sea trial with or without net in water is rely on engine revolution only. In this case, improving fuel consumption rate of these three representative trawlers has only one way that is by keeping good condition of propulsion engine always. At normal condition, diesel engine can run at optimum fuel consumption leading to minimizing impact pollution emitted to environment.