Trawl Catch Transport Bag for Continuous Offshore Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trawling systems face inefficiencies in catch handling, including prolonged idle time for fishing vessels, gear wear, and reduced catch quality due to the need to haul trawls onboard, which limits haul frequency and increases the risk of catch injury and deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A catch handling fleet with a collection system featuring a transport bag and coupling means that allows for the releasable connection to trawls, enabling the transport of catch to a vessel without hauling, using carrier drones and recovery bags to manage and process the catch efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If trawls are hauled into the vessel to collect catch, then catch can be collected, but vessel idle time increases and gear wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transport bag as an intermediary device between the trawl and the vessel. The transport bag receives catch from the trawl at sea and is later emptied into the vessel, eliminating the need to haul the entire trawl onboard for catch collection. This mediator allows continuous fishing operations while reducing vessel idle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the catch collection process into two independent operations: (1) catch transfer from trawl to transport bag at sea, and (2) transport bag emptying into vessel at port. This segmentation allows the trawl to remain deployed while catch is gradually transferred, maintaining fishing continuity and reducing idle time.
2Productivity
If trawls are hauled into the vessel, then catch is collected, but trawling gear wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport bag serves as a mediator that receives catch from the trawl without requiring the trawl to be hauled onboard. The coupling means enables selective connection and disconnection between the trawl and transport bag, allowing the heavy trawl gear to remain in the water during fishing operations, thus reducing mechanical wear and improving gear durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by creating a specialized connection interface (coupling means) at the cod end of the trawl that enables selective engagement with the transport bag. This localized connection mechanism allows catch transfer without compromising the overall integrity and durability of the trawl gear.
3Loss of time
If trawls are hauled onboard frequently, then catch is collected promptly, but operating time with no fishing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport bag system enables continuous useful action by allowing the trawl to remain deployed and actively fishing while catch is gradually transferred to the transport bag. The vessel maintains active fishing status throughout the process, eliminating periods of idle time and maximizing productive fishing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by transferring catch to the transport bag while the trawl is still deployed at sea. This preliminary transfer prevents catch from remaining in the cod end for extended periods, reducing storage time and maintaining catch quality without requiring frequent trawl hauls that would interrupt fishing operations.
4Ease of operation
If cod end is pulled dry and compacted, then catch is transported to vessel, but catch quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport bag acts as a gentle intermediary container that receives catch from the trawl without the harsh compaction forces associated with traditional cod end pulling. The bag's flexible structure and controlled filling process minimize mechanical stress on caught organisms, reducing injury and deterioration while still enabling efficient catch transfer to the vessel.
Data Source
AI summary
A catch handling system includes a catch collection system. The catch collection system includes one catch handling depot; one or more trawls; and a catch transport system, where the catch transport system includes a transport system, and where the transport system includes a transport node. The transport node includes a releasable connection to a catch handling fleet carrier drone and to one or more units of a catch handling fleet.