The PELORUS IMAGE GETS AN UPGRADE
The new system is designed to work harder, faster and longer with fewer breakdowns so will enable more efficient harvesting and increase the life of the boat.
Clearwater mussels’ vessel -
the Pelorus Image - had a complete upgrade of its efficiency and safety.
Clearwater Mussels’ mussel harvesting boat, the Pelorus Image, which can be regularly seen plying the waters of the Marlborough Sounds, was due for an upgrade to its hydraulics.
Pelorus Image was built in 1996 in Fremantle by Image Boat Builders. It holds 30,000 litres of diesel, has an overall length of 29 metres and can carry 117 tons on deck. The Pelorus Image hydraulics are powered by a 3406 Cat engine with a 60KVA generator coupled to a Perkins engine for electrics.
Before Covid, it was harvesting 80 – 110 bags daily.
FPS sales engineer Owen Little says that the complete refurbishment of the onboard hydraulic system meant removing all davits and deck equipment to get at the pipework which was replaced throughout the boat for the davits, deck gear and water pump. Above deck was refurbished with stainless steel and marinized componentry to handle the marine environment. Below deck was refurbished with painted steel.
Above deck, the team installed FPS stainless joysticks (hydraulic pilot), FPS safety valves and stainless steel tubes and fittings plus davits, hydraulic motors and gearboxes which were arc sprayed and painted.
The refit included moving the hydraulic engine, installing a new 1800 litre hydraulic oil tank and adding the new FPS manufactured and designed SAFE STOP system to the de-clumper to enhance crew safety. All pipe work was isolated from the boat (hull) via rubber isolation mounts and all bulkheads isolated by FPS bulkhead penetrations to suppress operational noise.
The new system is designed to work harder, faster and longer with fewer breakdowns so will enable more efficient harvesting and increase the life of the boat.
The refit was carried out onsite in Havelock. The boat can handle around 80 tonnes of mussels with a crew of five and is back at work helping Clearwater Mussels work towards its target of harvesting 25,000 tonnes of mussels annually.
