33 April 25,1998

From Wood to Fibreglass in the Azores

The nine occupied islands of Azorean archipelago rise from the ocean bottom nine hundred kilometres out in the Atlantic from the coast of Portugal. As an autonomous region of Portugal they are one of several island groups that maintain the definition of Ultra-peripheral Regions within the European Union. This recognizes the unique status of their Exclusive Economic Zone and bears on their fisheries policy within the EU.

With a 500 year history tied to trans Pacific crossings from the time of Columbus to today's modern yacht races, the Azores have an illustrious tradition of boat building. On the grid at the port of Horta on the island of Faial sit a number of the beautifully designed and maintained little diesel-powered open wooden boats that represent the artisanal fishery of the islands. Alongside them rests one of the last of the great whaling canoes from which migrating sperm whales were harpooned until recently. Further over, in front of the modern tuna freezing facility modern 10 to 20 metre longliners and bait boats moor to deliver demersal and pelagic catches. Unlike the wooden boats of the artisanal fishermen, these fibreglass boats were build in mainland European yards. Now all that is changing.

At the XVII Semana Das Pescas Dos Acores (XVII Fisheries Week of the Azores) held the past March 16 to 20, the first fibreglass fishing boat built in the Azores was on display. Designated by model the "Acores 1120" and named the "Caldeirinhas", the new boat is powered by a six-cylinder Cummins C-series diesel. Just under 12 meters in length and carrying 3.36 metres of beam the moulded depth allows for a nine cubic meter insulated fishhold. Designed for line fishing of demersal species, the boat has tidy accommodations for up to five crew. Bilge keels will add comfort to working conditions on the deep round bilged hull. The Cummins main engine drives through a Twin Disc gear equipped with a trolling valve to enable ultra slow operation when working gear.

The engine for the new boat was supplied by Electro Centro Vulcanizadora, Lda. with distributors in Lisbon, Porto, Matosinhos, Peniche and Pico. The choice of Cummins reflects the prevalence of Cummins power in the Azorean fleet including the KTA19-powered 25-metre fisheries research vessel "R/V Arquipelago".

Two design features of the new boat represent the Azorean tradition. The bulwarks along the working deck are timbered in wood to give a warmth as well as to minimize damage to gear and bruising to fish. At the forward end of the steel clad keel, just as it sweeps up to the forefoot, a hole, called locally a "fenel", is designed to facilitate pulling the boat out on the ramps that characterize the small ports around the rugged volcanic shoreline of the Azores.

While not a dramatic departure from conventional designs already building in other parts of the European Union this tidy little vessel promises greater comfort for crews while delivering higher quality iced fish to the active markets.

For further information contact:

Lourenço José Martins Alves, Eni.
Porto Das Pipas
970 Angra do Heroismo, Açores
Phone & fax: local (095) 2 67 23
Phone & fax: from North America 011 351 95 26723

Cummins engine supplied by:

Electro Central Vulcanizadora. LDA.
Porto, Lisboa, Matosinhos, Peniche, and Pico

Cummins engine info from:

Rachel Bridges
Cummins Marine
Commercial Marine Sales
4500 Leeds Ave. Suite 301
Charleston , S.C. U.S.A. 29405-8521
Phone:803 745 1585 Fax: 803 745 1549

500-476, 475-451, 450-426, 425-401, 400-376
375-351, 375-351, 350-326, 325-301, 300-276, 275-251, 250-226, 225-201
200-176, 175-151, 150-126, 125-101, 100-76, 75-51, 50-26, 25-0