Project Details
Vessel conversion from whelker to gill netter.
Parkol were approached by Waterdance Ltd. to convert Kelly of Ladram BM 800, a whelker at the time, to a gill netter. The vessel was built by Parkol in 2009 as a twin-rig trawler Reliance II (Build No.25), acquired by Waterdance Ltd. in September 2020 and converted to the whelk potter.
The vessel’s further conversion to gill netter was a part of modernization of Waterdance’s fleet.
First of all Parkol fabricators had to gain access under the existing wheelhouse pedestal. They cut a new opening and installed a new net tunnel from the working deck to aft net ponds.
In order to create space for new net ponds, extension in height of the aft shelter was built, the bulwark sides modified and the aft shelter deck cropped out.
New net ponds were fabricated and welded up including pond dividing walls and angle frames for open mesh flooring.
Then an opening in the new transom was cut out and a hinged net shooting hatch was fabricated to accommodate the net shooting system.
The works also included a new walkway over the net pond area underneath the aft shelter; modification to the aft accommodation escape to provide a route to shelter deck through the net ponds; open mesh flooring over full area of aft net ponds; a new safety handrail around the full perimeter of the new aft shelter deck; a new mounting seat for net hauler on starboard forward deck; a new steel net pond on the main deck; net flaking machine and tracking installed over aft net ponds.
After conversion Kelly of Ladram was repainted into Waterdance’s fleet colours and replaced the Charisma of Ladram, providing an updated vessel for the crew, with more spacious living quarters, increased efficiency and safety.