Bender Delivers First Five Of Twenty Shrimp Boats For Guyana

The first five shrimping boats of a 20-vessel contract have been delivered to the Guyana Government- owned Guyana Fishing Company, Ltd., by Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Company, Inc., of Mobile, Ala.

The initial deliveries were made recently to Guyana Fishing representatives at the Bender facility.

According to Guyana officials, the project is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank of Washington, D.C.

Each of the shrimp boats is of steel construction, single hard chine, with dimensions of 72 feet by 20 feet by 10 feet 9-inches.

Main propulsion is by a Caterpillar D3408 DITA 365-hp diesel engine rated 1,800 rpm transmitted to a Rice four-bladed manganesebronze propeller via a Twin Disc MG514C 6:1 reverse reduction marine gearbox.

Main electric power is obtained from a 32V, 100 amp Leece Neville alternator which is driven-off the main engine. A second identical alternator is driven-off a Lister ST2 diesel which also drives an M & P Flomax 5 bilge pump. An identical second M & P Flomax 5 pump is clutched from an auxiliary belt drive from the main engine for bilge and washdown purposes.

The shrimp trawl winch is a mechanically driven double-drum McElroy, Model 504, with bronze brake drums. The trynet winch, also mechanically driven, is a McElroy 501L which is a larger drum version of the McElroy standard unit.

Refrigeration equipment is supplied by TMC of Tampa, Fla., and installed by Marine Refrigeration, Inc., of Mobile. Each boat is equipped with a single TMC unit consisting of one OM636 Mercedes diesel engine and an 05DA Carrier diesel compressor, coupled to a Mercedes diesel. Also installed is one 32-tube condenser cooled by a Jabsco, Model 6400, pump. A standby 05DA Carrier compressor is mechanically driven off one of the main engine's auxiliary drives.

Six sets of TMC aluminum freezer plates are installed in the fish hold overhead.

Because there is a strong local market for fish in Guyana and an equally strong Caribbean export market, the intention of Guyana Fishing Company, Ltd., will be to take maximum advantage of the catch of incidental fish. The refrigeration system is designed to freeze 500 pounds of shrimp and 1,000 pounds of fish in 18 hours and to maintain a hold temperature of minus 25 degrees C.

The fish hold is insulated throughout with 8 inches of polyurethane covered with fiberglass.

Electronics were installed by R.H.

Sassaman of Mobile and consist of a Sailor SSB, model R110, receiver and T124 transmitter; a Sailor VHF, model RT144C; a Realistic, model TRC127, CB set; 2 Furuno depth recorders, model FE813 AF; a Magnavox satellite navigator, model MX4102; and a Furuno, model FR711, Radar.

According to Bender president Tom Bender, his company's bid for the project was such that it allowed the buyers to procure two additional vessels and remain within the fixed amount of the I.D.B. loan. These vessels are also currently under construction.