Out at sea, every minute counts. A breakdown in the middle of a fishing operation isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s lost time, lost catch, and lost revenue. For the crew aboard the deep-sea trawler F/V Viking, a hydraulic failure threatened to turn into a costly disaster. But with the right solution, they turned the situation around—recovering their oil, restoring their system, and achieving a return on investment in just one day.
The Problem: A Winch Breakdown and Contaminated Oil
The Viking, operated by Fiskafurðir (Fish Products) in Iceland, relied on a 3,000-liter hydraulic system to power its winch—an essential component in deep-sea fishing. When the winch system failed, contamination from metal particles entered the oil, putting the entire system at risk. The immediate concern was clear: would they have to replace all 3,000 liters of oil, or was there a way to save it?
The Solution: An Offline Filtration Approach
Rather than opting for an expensive full oil replacement, the team turned to an innovative solution: the CJC™ Fine Filter HDU 27/27 P. With a pump flow rate of 400 liters per hour and a filter insert capable of holding four liters of dirt, this system was designed to remove even the finest particles from oil. The process was straightforward:
- The contaminated oil was removed from the hydraulic system.
- After repairing the winch, the oil was filtered offline using an offline oil filtration system and returned to the system.
- The offline oil filter remained connected, and three oil samples were taken at different intervals.
The Results: Immediate Payback and Long-Term Protection
After just one hour of filtration, the oil quality had significantly improved. Further testing confirmed that the contamination had been effectively removed, saving the Viking from an unnecessary oil change. The cost of the filter was recouped in a single day—a remarkable return on investment.
- The net winch hydraulic system
- The pitch propeller
- The lubrication oil system for its Cummins generator sets
- The hydraulic system on the processing deck
- The gearboxes of the big trawl winches
A Captain’s Confidence: The Customer’s Testimonial
Stefán Gunnarsson of Fish Products had no doubts about the effectiveness of the offline oil filtration system.
For fishing vessels operating in demanding environments, reliability is everything. The F/V Viking’s success story is a testament to how proactive maintenance and advanced oil filtration can prevent costly breakdowns, extend oil life, and keep operations running smoothly—even in the toughest conditions at sea.