Auxiliary Diesel Electric Propulsion of Large Fishing Boat

The government of Formosa has completed at Mitsubishi Dock Yard, a large fishing boat, equipped with two direct reversible four cycle Diesel engines, each developing 340 B. H. P. at 275 r. p. m. for main propulsion.She is accommodated with many up-to-date fishing and sailing apparatus, among which most remarkable one is the auxiliary Diesel electric propulsion. In case of the tunny fishing with line-hauler, it is most desirable to propel the boat at a very slow speed nearly same as winding of line-hauler. Such a slowest speed of propeller as 11 r. p. m. is easily obtained by the Diesel electric propulsion.There is another remarkable merit. Captain himseff can manoeuver the engine by remote control from the bridge, while inspecting the condition of the line-slack or tight-which is most important for this special fishing practice.The electric propulsion is of Leonard system, where electric power is supplied from auxiliary Diesel generator of variable voltage type, to the variable speed 75 B. H. P. D. C. motor which is connected to the shaft through reduction gears and a clutch. There are two clutches provided for one propeller shaft, one of which is engaged to the main engine and the other to the auxiliary propelling motor through reduction gearing. When one of the clutches is engaged, another is disengaged by the same operating handle so as to avoid the mishandling.