Frequent Flyer success epitomizes benefits of FPT Industrial engines for fishing vessels

The Frequent Flyer, a 36x13ft twin-jet dive-harvest vessel that participates in six different dive fisheries across Alaska and Washington State, is taking advantage of retrofitted N67 EVO @ 530Mhp engines from FPT Industrial, completely transforming both the boat and its operation. Compact and cost-effective, more and more fishing vessels are benefiting from the FPT Industrial N67 EVO, which offers a short load response time, high power density (with minimum fuel consumption), quieter operation, and service intervals of up to 600 hours.

Operating out of Poulsbo port, Washington, the Frequent Flyer dives year-round, harvesting sea cucumbers, geoducks, and sea urchins. The vessel often operates in high current conditions, sometimes with multiple divers in the water simultaneously. The combination of these factors presents several challenges to Captain Blake Herr.




“Reliability is the number one priority when it comes to powering the Frequent Flyer,” he says. “We often use a technique called ‘live boating’, which means the vessel is not anchored in place while divers are in the water. We maneuver the boat around the divers or follow them. The divers are attached via a 300ft long airline called an umbilical that supplies breathing gas and communications. We need responsive power and agile maneuverability, as we are often close to reefs and rocks. In dive fisheries, lives depend on equipment every single day. All systems on the Frequent Flyer take on the role of life support at some point in time, and the engines are no exception.”

The Frequent Flyer also needs lots of power because the crew often put considerable weight up to 8000 lbs potentially. Furthermore, the boat’s customers are mainly live seafood markets, which makes it paramount to deliver the catch as fast as possible, ensuring it is fresh upon reaching the consumer. 

Time to repower
To help guarantee the reliable power that the Frequent Flyer requires for both safety and speed, two years ago Herr took the decision to repower the boat with twin FPT Industrial N67 530Mhp engines.

“This was a major upgrade in all categories from our previous engines,” he states. “I went with FPT Industrial because of their reputation in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska, where they came highly recommended by several jet boat captains. It’s good to look for engines that are battle-proven in other fast-paced, intense, and competitive fisheries like ours. That’s where equipment gets pushed to the limits; where design flaws and weak points quickly show. Bristol Bay boats are somewhat similar to ours, being mainly stout jet boats. So when I see new vessels from different builders all using the same power plant, it’s a strong indicator and reveals a lot about those engines.”



FPT Industrial N67 EVO engines also came highly recommended by NTG Fabrication in Bellingham, the boat shop that repowered the Frequent Flyer. When NTG showed him the engine specification, Herr says he was particularly impressed when comparing it with others in the same class.

The twin N67 EVO engines acquired for use on the Frequent Flyer carry a best-in-class commercial rating of 530Mhp at 3000 rpm (1164ft/lbs at 2000 rpm). Unique options include dual circuit keel cooling for fast planning commercial vessels. This four-stroke, inline 6-cylinder diesel features an electronic common rail fuel system, wastegate turbocharged with charge air cooling, 6.7-liter displacement, and a compression ratio of 15.9:1. The engine meets emissions level EPA Tier 3.

Complete transformation
“So far my experience has been great; the FPT Industrial engines have completely transformed my boat and my operation,” says Herr. “For instance, I can now put four times the weight up on step as I have a lot more power and burn less fuel.”

But the benefits do not end there. According to Herr, the compact size of the FPT Industrial engines provides the Frequent Flyer with extra space in the engine room. Furthermore, the engines run a lot more smoothly, vibrating less and producing lower noise emissions than the vessel’s previous power plant. He also says the throttles are very responsive, which is a safety-critical feature when performing ‘live boating’ or maneuvering close to rocks.

“Every winter I drive my boat up to southeast Alaska from Washington, and back again at the end of the season: 30 hours straight running on step and the oil level is exactly the same as when we left. I’m very pleased with the FPT Industrial engines.”




Top-level service
MSHS, an FPT Industrial distributor partner for the marine industry since 2005, supplied the engines to NTG Fabrication. This proven partnership ensures customers have direct access to FPT Industrial products, factory-trained engineers, and customer service and support from MSHS offices in Florida, Louisiana, and Washington, as well as FPT Industrial’s coast-to-coast dealer network.

 “The number one thing I look for is customer service, hands down,” states Herr. “The dive fishery industry is always non-stop action, and when a piece of equipment goes down it’s extremely helpful to have a representative of the manufacturer available to help troubleshoot the issue or send parts as fast as possible so we can get back on the water. The last thing I want to deal with is a company that takes days or even weeks to return a phone call or email when we need support.”

FPT Industrial North America provides wide-ranging support to its distributors and dealers, including a telephone help desk that offers 24/7 care and assistance. This is music to the ears of Herr, who has dedicated his life to dive fishing and loves nothing more than being out on the water.

“I’ve been working in the commercial fishing sector since I was 21 years old, when I graduated from commercial dive school,” he says. “I’m now 35 and would not trade my profession for anything. Here I am blasting around in my own 1200hp jet boat in Washington and Alaska. The adventure, the comradery, and the fast-paced and action-packed thing we call harvest diving is something that exists in no other industry. It’s the reason we need equipment such as the FPT Industrial N67 EVO engines. They are the heartbeat of our operation.”