BruCon FishPilot is a solution for fishing vessels, which allows less focus on vessel manoeuvring, and more on gear and catch.
By giving the vessel advanced manoeuvring functions, FishPilot lets fishing vessel crews continue their successful operations, but with increased autonomy, safety, and efficiency.
BruCon FishPilot solution
“FishPilot opens for a higher degree of economisation of the fishing process, with reduced accelerations and steadier baiting. FishPilot takes control and let us focus on the important but nitty-gritty details where the operator is still the superstar onboard,” says Kjetil Holmeset, representing H. P. Holmeset AS.
There are many products developed especially for fishing vessels, like echo sounders, sonars and other tools for searching, mapping, and visualising what is below the vessel in the water column. There have also been major steps in gear handling and fish processing equipment.
Fishing vessel manoeuvring
For fishing vessel manoeuvring, much has been the same over the last 20 years
For fishing vessel manoeuvring, much has been the same over the last 20 years. This is in opposition to other vessel segments, where operators currently prefer simplified steering to focus more on all the other tasks under their responsibility.
As for Brunvoll's retractable azimuth combi thruster, they have seen a gap and a potential in the fishing vessel segment for improved manoeuvring and steering.
Their analysis reveals that BruCon FishPilot can enable:
- Steadier operations
- Reduced risk of gear loss
- Higher economisation of the fishing process
- Increased catch numbers
- Improved catch quality
SEAOPS research project
Brunvoll is now in the concluding phase of the research project SEAOPS, together with DNV, SINTEF, NTNU, and H P Holmeset AS. The research project has included both theoretical studies, digital twin model building, and practical tests onboard the long-liner fishing vessel Geir. Now, Brunvoll is taking the established knowhow and solutions forward into the FishPilot product.
“In a few years I think the FishPilot can take a larger part of the AutoPilot market, both for long-liners and for other types of fishing vessels. I believe the future is looking bright for the FishPilot,” says Adrian Holmeset, vessel operator onboard long-liner - Geir.
Brunvoll has extensive experience with autonomy solutions
FishPilot functionality can be configured to suit also purse seining, Danish seining, trawling, and pot fishing
Brunvoll has built up wider experience with autonomy solutions, ranging from dynamic positioning, independent joystick, auto-crossing for ferries, to solutions for aquaculture vessels. A next natural step for Brunvoll is fishing vessels.
From a pilot project with long-liners, FishPilot functionality has been expanded to support multiple fishing techniques. FishPilot functionality can be configured to suit also purse seining, Danish seining, trawling, and pot fishing.
Brunvoll offers enhanced functionality
Brunvoll experts make sure each individual customer and crew is set up with functionality, which suits their vessel and operation. The chosen functionality will be aimed at operations, where improvements can make a substantial difference.
- FishPilot autonomy takes control over the vessel’s course, speed, or track, depending on operator’s preferences.
- FishPilot offers functionality for improved attention on crew safety, catch quality, and gear loss prevention.
- FishPilot offers steadier vessel operations, enabling energy efficiency through reduced accelerations.