Case Study: Marine Scotland
Verifying Fishing Vessel Engine Power Using a Shaft Power Measurement Kit
Background
None of the Earth’s resources are infinite. For centuries, people have fished to feed their families, and today we are at the point where the population of fish stocks needs to be actively managed to prevent further depletion. The best way to manage the reduction and possible decay of many fish species is to develop and follow sustainable fishing policies, while offering stable economic and social conditions for those involved in the fishing industry.
Many countries and international organisations have established sustainable fishing policies, and the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), developed and implemented by EU institutions, is one example of an approach to managing fishing fleet capacity and conserving fish stocks, informed by scientific advice from bodies such as the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The Client: Marine Scotland
Scotland is amongst the largest sea fishing nations in Europe, with Scottish fishing vessels landing around two‑thirds of the total fish caught in the United Kingdom.
Marine Scotland was responsible for monitoring and controlling the activities of all fishing vessels operating within Scottish waters, as well as the activities of Scottish vessels wherever they may fish, and their fishing capacity, defined in terms of vessel tonnage and engine power.
Under the CFP and its fisheries control regulations, fishing vessel operators must ensure the vessel’s declared engine power is accurate and verifiable. Engine power in kilowatts (kW) is a regulated measure of fishing capacity recorded for registration and licensing purposes; in the UK this meant declaring the maximum continuous engine power to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for the vessel register, with the same value reflected on the fishing licence. It was prohibited to fish with a propulsion engine whose power exceeded that stated on the licence.
“What we needed was a temporary and relatively inexpensive system to carry out physical engine power testing within our verification process.”
Marine Scotland
The Challenge
Where documentary checks and initial vessel inspections were insufficient to verify declared engine power, Marine Scotland had to carry out physical engine power testing. This requires equipment that can be temporarily installed on working fishing vessels, operates reliably in harsh marine environments, and can be used across a wide range of vessels without permanent modification.
In addition, data collected during testing must be retained for further review and analysis ashore, requiring reliable logging and secure storage of measurement data under field conditions.
The operating environment presents further challenges. Fishing vessels often offer limited space around the propeller shaft, while marine conditions demand equipment that is robust and suitably protected. The testing equipment also needs to be reusable across multiple vessels and installations throughout the programme. Given the nature of inspections, the system must be sufficiently straightforward for attending fisheries representatives to install, operate, and remove within a single visit.
The Solution
To support physical engine power testing during vessel inspections, Marine Scotland adopted a temporary shaft power measurement system suitable for use in marine environments. The Datum SPMK: Shaft Power Measurement Kit is designed for temporary installation and can be deployed on working fishing vessels without permanent modification. Installation procedures are straightforward, supported by accompanying documentation and technical guidance.
The system measures engine power by combining torque and rotational speed measurements taken from the propeller shaft. Shaft strain is measured using a bonded strain gauge, while shaft speed is measured using a non‑contact sensor. The resulting data is transmitted to a software interface for display and logging during testing.
The hardware is suitable for repeated use across multiple installations and accommodates a range of propeller shaft diameters. Measurement data is recorded during testing and retained for subsequent review and analysis ashore.
The Outcome
Following a pilot trial across nine fishing vessels, Marine Scotland confirmed that physical engine power verification can be carried out during vessel inspections using a temporary shaft power measurement system, with the Datum SPMK used to obtain and log measurements under operational conditions.
The compact, portable nature of the system allowed equipment to be brought on board as required, with measurement data collected during inspections and retained for subsequent review. This enabled Marine Scotland to support verification activities without the need for permanently installed instrumentation.
The results provided a basis for applying verified power data within the regulatory process, including where corrective actions were required in relation to declared engine power.
Note: In June 2023, Marine Scotland was renamed the Marine Directorate as part of a wider Scottish Government restructuring. To learn more visit the Marine Directorate webpage.
“I would recommend Datum Electronics as they have experience in working with several European member states involving fishing vessel engine power measurement.
Datum Electronics have had extensive experience working in this particular field. They also offer training for their products and make technical advice available either by a phone call or email. Spare components are quickly despatched as and when required.”
Marine Scotland
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