Safety idea

More than 20 years ago, experienced trawl fisher, Tony Sterling, had the idea to install an inpull winch to improve operational efficiency and safety.  

Tony’s inpull winch is a hydraulic sandwich winch with a 50 to 1 reduction gearbox. It simultaneously winches in both port and starboard sides of the trawl gear. The same could be achieved with separate side inpull winches operated independently.

Spreading and shooting away the trawl gear is first achieved by letting out the inpull winch cable so that the trawl strain is then taken by the trawl boom blocks.

The trawl gear does not reach to the boom blocks but is inpulled inboard for all net cod end retrieval operations. The trawl boards and sleds can be further inpulled up to the board racks for stowing.

Benefits

Safety

• Crew no longer need to go out onto the booms: On the booms, there is a higher risk of falling or getting washed overboard, particularly in bad weather.  
• Lower-risk gear retrieval: Trawl gear can be inpulled right up to board and sled storage racks without the need to collect and attach the gear retrieval ropes out on the booms.  All parts of the gear can be easily reached from the boat.
• Easier adjustment and repair of trawl gear: Any minor adjustment or repair to trawl gear at the otter boards and sleds can be done simply by inpulling gear to side of boat.
• Increased vessel stability: Inpulling gear also provides an instant increase in vessel stability during hookup or broken trawl wire situations. This allows easier attachment of snatch blocks, which is recommended for these emergencies.

While originally designed for triple or 5 net trawl gear, the inpull winch also has similar safety advantages for quad rig boats.

Operational efficiency

• No need for lengthy sweeps on the middle net in triple or 5 rig systems: Minimal middle net sweeps are installed to configure the middle net around the back of the boat. It also allows towing of these trawl systems from the end of booms (4 rig trawl block position).  
• Ease of shooting away: Releasing the inpull winch gives exceptional ease of shooting away and maximum trawl spread. Smaller otter boards and less aggressive board settings can be used because shooting away and trawl spreading is effortless. 
• Fuel savings. 
• Increased stability: Shooting nets away is very stable in heavy weather and cross current situations. 

Background

In 2023, we ran workshops in Queensland for commercial fishers. During the workshops, the fishers produced guidance on risk assessment considerations and lifejacket procedures. They also shared their advice and strategies for preventing and managing person overboard incidents, and saving lives.