This paper describes an attempt to motorize traditional fishing boats (dinghies) commonly used in Balasore district, Orissa, India. Several technical problems were encountered and three different modes of power transmission were tested.

The motorized dinghies were employed in commercial fishing operations and their performance was compared with that of non-motorized dinghies.

The work was sponsored by NORAD (the Norwegian Agency for International Development) under an Indo-Norwegian bilateral project for assistance to traditional fisheries in Kasafal, Balasore district, and implemented through the Directorate of Fisheries in Orissa. Mr. B.B. Mohapatra, by. Director of Fisheries, Balasore, was responsible for the Directorate’s input.

The small-scale fisheries project of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) was engaged by NORAD for technical execution of the project. Mr. A. Overa, BOBP’s Fishing Craft Engineer, was responsible for the technical inputs till mid-1985; thereafter Mr. 0. Gulbrandsen, Naval Architect (Consultant), and Mr. S. Johansen, BOBP Naval Architect (Associate Professional Officer), supervised the modification of hulls and installation of engines, prepared drawings, and in general looked after technical details.

The BOBP’s small-scale fisheries project began in 1979 and covers five countries bordering the Bay of Bengal - Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Funded by SIDA (Swedish International Development Authority) and executed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), the project seeks to develop, demonstrate and promote appropriate technologies and methodologies to improve the conditions of small-scale fisherfolk in member countries.