NEW WHEELHOUSE, SELF-SHOOTING GATE & MIZZEN FOR “NORTHERN LIGHTS”

7 July 2005

Robert Broderick owner and skipper of the Cygnus 32, Northern Lights, has secured over £11,000 of Objective One Fisheries Grant money towards the installation of a custom built self shooting system for putting his pots through the transom of the boat, a new mizzen and a replacement wheelhouse.

The Northern Lights is an Under 10 metre vessel worked by skipper Mr. Broderick, his son Daniel, and Mark Cox. The vessel is crabbing all year working for lobsters, crab and spider crab in a radius of 20 miles from Newquay Harbour.

The project entailed a number of improvements to the working conditions on board the boat. These included the transom to be cut out for the self shooting system which means that each string of pots can be sent overboard without handling; the replacement of the aft wheelhouse with a new forward wheelhouse giving more comfort and shelter for the crew, and; the construction of a mizzen mast and sail at stern of boat to increase the stability on board the boat whilst pots are being hauled. The project has not only increased the safety on board the boat, but it has also lessened the physical strain of shooting 15 strings (450 pots) a day.

Mr Broderick, owner and skipper of “Northern Lights” said “We decided to give the vessel a full refit at the same time as the Objective One grant work was in progress. This included a new engine from Mermaid Marine; the whole job was completed at the Gaffers & Luggers boat yard in Falmouth (owned by Martin Heard) in just 10 weeks. The improvements to the Northern Lights have made the vessel a pleasure to work for myself and my crew. We wish we had done this 20 years ago. Many thanks to Objective One and Martin Heard & family”

Clare Leverton, Objective One Fisheries Programme Manager commented “Improvement projects on boats like this make a significant difference to working on deck and can help the skipper to recruit and retain crew. The Cornish fleet has had problems in keeping crews in the past but is trying to address this problem. To apply for grant aid please call 01872 270 333” 
 

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