The AZTI-Tecnalia technological center, specialized in marine and food research, has developed a low-cost and easy to use technology that can precisely estimate the amount of fuel that a boat consumes on a specific course during a fishing expedition.
The system, called Gestoil, can display on the ship’s bridge the fuel consumption necessary to travel a specific course, in real time. This makes it possible to plan alternative routes that lower navigation costs.
As such the use of this tool by master fishermen can result in savings of 25% when trolling, 10% for purse seine boats, and between 2-9% for trawling. The heads of the Basque technology center maintain that this application can be used in all segments of the fishing fleet.
The technology center has also presented a system for monitoring and simulating fishing nets by computer, that will serve to develop new research into the workings of this activity, and optimize it toward making it a more responsible task.
AZTI-Tecnalia carries out its work at its three headquarters in the Basque Country, which contain more than 10,000 square meters of surface area and include specialized laboratories, a pilot plant, cutting edge equipment and technologies, and an oceanographic vessel.
EFE/ ABC