The M.V. PLALUNG I of SEAFDEC serving as model for Thai trawlers

Abstract

When the Government of Thailand was confronted with the need to address the pressing international requirements on labor in the fisheries sector, more particularly in trawl fisheries, SEAFDEC offered its 17-GT Thai-style trawler, the M.V. PLALUNG I as a demonstration boat as it resembles that of a typical Thai trawler. The M.V. PLALUNG I was acquired by SEAFDEC in 1982 through funds provided by the Government of Thailand, and was intended to be used by the SEAFDEC Training Department (TD) during its conduct of onboard practical training on fishing technology, navigation, onboard fish handling, seamanship, marine engineering, and fishing vessel operation in general. As a demonstration fishing boat, the M.V. PLALUNG I would showcase the efforts of the Government of Thailand in providing fishers and fishing vessel crew decent working conditions onboard fishing vessels. However, such action called for the modification of the design and structures of the M.V. PLALUNG I to be able to serve as a model for Thai trawlers. Thus, the Department of Fisheries (DOF) of Thailand collaborated with SEAFDEC, the Thai Union Group, and Nestlé Thailand to pursue the three-year project (2016-2018) aimed at modifying the design and reinstalling the structures of the M.V. PLALUNG I with financial and technical support provided by the Thai Union Group and Nestlé Thailand.