In a major breakthrough, National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Cochin (CIFT) have developed scientific fuel-efficient propellers which increases vessel speed.
The new fishing-boat propellers can save `140 crore subsidy on diesel. in Cochin (CIFT).
According to estimates, fishing industry is one of the biggest consumers of diesel oil in the country and uses around 2,000 million litres annually. Even 10 per cent average savings in fuel can help to save around `1,400 million to exchequer by way of subsidy to the saved diesel in addition to a whopping 200 million litres reduction in consumption.
The project by NAIP explored the lacunae in detail and developed an innovative technology package for the fishing industry. The project designed fuel-efficient propellers using new blade elements and manufactured prototype propellers, evaluated performance under field conditions, refined the designs based on full-scale trials and released for commercial manufacture.The new propellers can substantially reduce in operational costs with 21-28 % fuel saving i.e., average minimum saving of 750 liters of diesel per month (`4,20,000/- per annum).
The propellers can improve speed and pull by about 10-15 per cent. Standardised manufacturing methods and material specification saves minimum 70 per cent cost over three years.