Fuel cost savings and pollution reduction by alternative propulsion technologies for Italian fisheries

Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) is a vital but costly input to fishing production, accounting for a large proportion of the running costs of a fishing vessel. Urgent actions are needed to investigate different propulsion options for the fishing fleet, regarding for instance the use of alternative fuels, such as LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). The paper deals with the comparison between diesel and LNG engines, to be used on board Italian fishing vessels. The use of fixed pitch propeller (FPP) versus a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) is also investigated. The aim of this study is to highlight the most promising technologies for reducing fuel costs and air pollution by using alternative fuels.