SCANTROL'S new iSYM automatic symmetry control is designed to monitor tension to give early warning of a fastener and allows the skipper to adjust winch response according to conditions.
The prototype has been tested on the Norwegian research ship GO Sars and the system offers skippers several options, including the facility to take data direct from the vessel's sounder to adjust warp length, Helge Hammersland tells FNI.
"Ten years ago it was enough to control the gear with synchronised winches and equal warp tensions but, today, we can improve catch efficiency by using information from a variety of sources and using new parameters, such as the water flow into the trawl."
