For owners and operators of small commercial fishing vessels, the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) could provide an opportunity to invest in equipment that improves safety on board. One area worth considering is engine shut-off and man-overboard protection.
Working on a fishing vessel brings risks that are very different from those encountered on a leisure boat. Crew regularly move around the deck, handle fishing gear and work away from the helm, often while the engine is running.
If someone goes overboard, having a reliable way of stopping the engine can make an important difference.
The OLAS Guardian has been designed to provide an additional layer of protection by connecting crew to the vessel wirelessly and automatically activating the engine stop circuit if a crew member wearing an OLAS transmitter goes overboard or moves outside the system's detection range.
For suitable diesel installations, the OLAS Diesel Relay can be used alongside the Guardian to interface with a higher-current engine stop circuit.
What is FaSS funding?
The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) provides financial support for eligible projects within the English fishing and seafood sector.
Among the areas supported by the scheme are projects intended to improve the health, safety and working conditions of fishermen.
This can make FaSS worth investigating for fishing vessel owners looking to upgrade safety equipment or make other improvements to their vessel.
The important point is that not every product or installation will automatically qualify. Funding is dependent on the current scheme rules, the individual project and approval by the relevant authority. Vessel owners should therefore confirm that their proposed equipment and expenditure are eligible before placing an order.
Improving engine safety on small fishing vessels
A conventional kill cord provides an important safety function, but it depends on the operator being physically connected to the engine controls.
That isn't always practical during fishing operations.
The skipper may leave the helm to work on deck, while other crew members may be moving around the vessel. A wireless system such as OLAS Guardian allows the safety system to remain with the person rather than relying on a physical cord between the operator and the controls.
Each crew member can carry an OLAS transmitter, allowing the Guardian to monitor those individuals while they are on board.
If a person wearing a transmitter enters the water, the Guardian can trigger the vessel's engine stop circuit.
This doesn't replace good seamanship, personal flotation equipment or established man-overboard procedures. Instead, it provides another layer of protection designed to act automatically when a person becomes separated from the vessel.
OLAS Guardian and Diesel Relay
For a small diesel-powered fishing vessel, the combination of OLAS Guardian and the OLAS Diesel Relay can provide a practical way of adding wireless engine shut-off protection.
The Guardian handles the wireless detection of the crew, while the Diesel Relay provides the interface required for suitable higher-current diesel engine stop circuits.
A typical example could look like this:
| Equipment | Example price inc. VAT |
|---|---|
| OLAS Guardian | £270 |
| OLAS Diesel Relay | £95 |
| Example installation allowance | £200 |
| Total | £565 |
If an individual project were approved for 80% funding, the figures would work out at:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Total project cost | £565 |
| Potential 80% contribution | £452 |
| Potential vessel contribution | £113 |
These figures are provided as an example only. The actual funding rate, eligible expenditure and installation costs will depend on the individual FaSS application and vessel.
Which fishing vessels could consider this?
The Guardian and Diesel Relay may be particularly relevant to smaller commercial fishing vessels where the skipper or crew regularly work away from the helm.
This could include:
- Inshore fishing vessels
- Small commercial fishing boats
- Single-handed fishing operations
- Diesel-powered vessels
- Vessels where crew regularly move between the helm and working deck
- Boats looking to improve existing engine shut-off arrangements
The suitability of the system will depend on the individual vessel and engine installation, so we recommend discussing the installation requirements before purchasing.
A relatively simple safety upgrade
One of the advantages of the Guardian system is that it can be added to an existing vessel rather than requiring a complete change to the way the boat is operated.
For a fishing vessel owner already considering safety improvements, it could therefore be worth including wireless engine shut-off protection as part of a wider FaSS application.
The potential funding support makes the cost particularly interesting, but the more important question should always be whether the equipment provides a genuine improvement in safety for the vessel and its crew.
If you're considering a FaSS application and want to discuss whether OLAS Guardian could be suitable for your fishing vessel, contact the OLAS Marine team to discuss your requirements.