Reducing Operational Costs Through Optimised Hybrid Propulsion Configuration on Fishing Vessels

Abstract

Advances in maritime science and technology have brought significant developments to fishing vessels, particularly in the use of oil-fuelled engines and electronic equipment supported by onboard generators. However, the operation of these engines produces vibrations that can affect the behaviour of fish under the vessel, potentially reducing fishing efficiency when using nets or fishing rods in open waters. This study examines the use of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) propulsion system, which allows vessels to operate using internal combustion engines or electric motors. As the importance of efficiency and performance increases, propulsion systems must be redesigned to support hybrid operations. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling was used to simulate and identify the most effective and efficient propulsion design. Field data and simulation results show that the use of a conventional DongFeng S 1125 engine results in operating costs of IDR 170,000.00, while the hybrid system reduces these costs to IDR 64,700.00. These findings highlight the potential of HEV systems to improve energy efficiency and significantly reduce operating costs in small-scale fishing operations.