MV BLUEFIN QUALITY MANUAL - Australian Maritime College

Australian Maritime College
While shooting and hauling takes place, it is imperative that all participants have a
complete understanding of the risks regarding entanglement and working around high
tension ropes, crab pots and large moving objects, This activity involves the full
complement of ships crew and lecturing staff, and the use of appropriate PPE.
Following a thorough briefing the ship’s crew members, the crew must be prepared to
overrule any practice which they deem to be unsafe, or to the contrary of any recognised
procedures.
Weather conditions must be fully assessed before crab fishing activates are undertaken.
Equipment used
1. Standby hydraulics are engaged during the deployment and retrieval. To be engaged
by the Engineer for operation.
2. Pot hauler.
3. Lifting Equipment.
4. Public address system.
5. Hand held UHF Radios.
6. PPE.
Procedure
Only qualified ship’s crew may use the hydraulic controls for the shooting and retrieval of
the Giant crab equipment.
Only ship’s crew may be involved in the deployment of crab fishing equipment.
Shooting
Shooting the Crab pots involves the deployment of float line followed by the crab pots x 8
attached to the main line by the means of a spliced line (Tail or Branch line).
This line allows the pots to be attached to the mainline.
The crab pots are placed in order on the timber deck with a rectangular pot joined on to
the first tale and the float line secured to the stern, by means of a quick release clip.
Once a suitable location is found the vessel speed is slowed to 2.5 to 3 knots then the
shooting process starts.
The quick release clip on the float line is released allowing the drag created to assist in
dragging the 1 st pot down the stern ramp, and then the tales are then attached to the pots
in order as the main line is paid out from the rope basket.
The combined weight and drag created allows the remanning pots to be pulled down the
stern ramp, until the last pot is deployed then the 2nd float line follows as this is attached
to the last pot the vessel remains at 3 knots until all the remaining float line and floats are
clear of the vessel this now completes the shooting process
Append 3.8 - Crab Fishing.docx 2 of 4
Revised: November 2010