HAL installs net cutter system

Holland America Line (HAL) has installed Spurs Marine?s line and net cutter system on both cp propellers of its cruise ship Volendam. This follows a similar installation on the sister vessel Veendam in May, this year. HAL has told Spurs Marine that it intends to install the cutter system on all its vessels.

A key factor in HAL?s decision to install the cutter system was the environment. Mindful of the very sensitive cruising locations frequented by its vessels, such as the inland passage in Alaska and the many harbours visited, the cruise ship operator has to be extremely vigilant and alert to environmental concerns. “Governments worldwide are serious about oil pollution caused by maritime interests,” says Donald Govan, president, Spurs Marine. “The fines are getting extreme and jail time is threatened for crews that are responsible.

“A vessels aft seal can hold many thousands of gallons of lubrication oil for the shaft bearing. This oil will be released when the seal ruptures from line or net entanglement. The Spurs line and net cutter system is designed to instantly cut this line before damage can occur,” explained Govan. The cutter systems have two rotary cutting blades and one stationary cutting blade assembly and are designed to instantly cut any line or net before becoming entangled with the propeller, thus avoiding any possibility of aft seal oil rupture and resultant pollution.

“A ship becomes very safe with the cutters installed,” says Govan, “since with each revolution of the propeller lines and nets are wound into the cutter blades where they are instantly cut and washed away as the ship moves either forward or in reverse.

“Down time for any vessel is a costly problem. The time off charter is only a small part. The shipyard expense for an unscheduled docking can cost in excess of the cargo value making the net cutter systems very cost effective. Even divers charges can make the cost of the cutter system comparatively small.