See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233644288

The Philippine Indigenous Outrigger Boat:

Scaling Up, Performance and Safety

Article in Marine Technology Society Journal · September 2006

DOI: 10.4031/002533206787353277

CITATIONS READS

0 4,123

1 author:

Glenn Aguilar
UNITEC Institute of Technology
50 PUBLICATIONS 93 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Rethinking assessment of biodiversity in northern New Zealand forests: Incorporating lichens, a

neglected but important group, in vegetation monitoring View project

Alien Nation View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Glenn Aguilar on 01 August 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

PAPER

The Philippine Indigenous Outrigger Boat:

Scaling Up, Performance and Safety
AUTHORS ABSTRACT
Glenn D. Aguilar The traditional indigenous double outrigger crafts, called banca boats, of the Philippines
Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology vary in size from the very small 4 meter single crew paddle boats to large 50 meter fishing
College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences vessels and passenger ferry boats. Regardless of size, the same construction techniques are
University of the Philippines in the Visayas used by native boat builders with wood as the main building material. Many hull forms,
particularly economically important fishing boats, have been scaled up, resulting in problems
related to the availability of wood for construction, safety at sea, and performance. Model
experiments on craft performance show the hydrodynamic characteristics of the double outrigger
Introduction form and describe characteristics important for design, construction, and operation of the

I n this age of modern hull forms, ad-

vanced materials, efficient engines and com-
puterized control systems, there are still areas
of the world where traditional boats ply the
crafts. The presence of outriggers has a definite effect on the heave, pitch, and roll motion of
the craft as compared to the hull without an outrigger. Data analyses of maritime incident
reports show a high percentage of capsizing by these motorized banca boats, highlighting the
need for some regulation of their design and construction. Other concerns related to fisheries
seas and are ubiquitous features of the coastal as being the main area of use of these boats are further discussed.
communities. Such is the case in the Philip-
pines with its archipelago of 7,100 islands
where the indigenous double outrigger craft, large size outrigger crafts were already in exist- latory requirements. Present day concerns in-
or banca, predominates and modern fiber- ence. Today, the basic unit of Philippine gov- cluding sustainability of fish resources, con-
glass or aluminum mono-hulls or catama- ernment, the “barangay” was named after these servation of the environment and safety at sea,
rans are limited to the larger cities and tourist vessels that were used in the islands before the necessitate a serious look at the nature of these
resorts. Presently, bancas are used as platforms Spanish came. crafts and a definitive study on the problems
for fishing and as passenger ferries or cargo The Spaniards noted the navigational skill that are inherent in their operating conditions
vessels for short routes. In other areas where of Filipinos, particularly the Bisaya (from the and hull form. Design and construction of
tourism is a significant industry, outrigger Visayas Regions) who used a compass found these native craft do not employ standard na-
boats are used for sailing or rented for tour- among the Malays and Chinese. Legaspi, an val architecture and engineering modeling,
ing and scuba or skin diving. These tourist early Spanish explorer, captured a Moro in calculations and experiments. Hence, investi-
areas are increasing in number and subse- Butuan and noted that he was “...a most ex- gations into the basic characteristics of the
quent modifications in the hull structures, perienced man who had much knowledge, banca’s hull form—particularly hydrostatics,
general arrangements and powering charac- not only of matters concerning these Filipinas hydrodynamics, structural materials, and pow-
teristics to accommodate tourists and other Islands, but those of Maluco, Borney, Malaca, ering—are needed to contribute to the knowl-
passengers are noted. For events such as the Java, India, and China, where he had had edge about these crafts in order to formulate
Paraw regatta in Iloilo, an annual sailing race, much experience in navigation and trade.” regulations and recommend measures that
boats are specially built to compete. (Blair and Robertson, 1903). Such naviga- address safety at sea and environmental as well
Philippine maritime tradition is evident tional skill would have been developed as economic concerns. (Aguilar, 2004)
in the find unearthed at Butuan City in the through a tradition of constant voyaging and Similar studies on indigenous crafts have
Southern island of Mindanao that included exploration where seasonal winds are favor- been conducted in other nearby countries,
12 vessel artifacts capable of ocean voyages able and literally blow boats and their passen- the most relevant include those in Indonesia
dating back to the 8th century AD. Historical gers from one part to another. (Iskandar, 1999; Rafni, 1999; Ueno, 1999)
accounts of early Malay settlement of the is- Philippine outrigger boat designs are where some craft types are of similar design
lands consistently include outrigger boats deemed highly optimal for their area of opera- and exhibit similar performance related char-
called “balanghais” that transported “datus” tion given the evolutionary and conservative acteristics (Jons et al, 1987). Specific studies
or chiefs from the southern Malay islands. In nature of design changes. Such changes de- on safety, resistance and maneuvering of a typi-
many artists’ depictions of such boats, the pend on material availability, opportunities cal Philippine double outrigger craft have also
outrigger beams contain further support for for using engines and propellers, major func- been conducted (Aguilar et al., 2002; Aguilar
rowers that propel the craft. Hence, even then tions such as fishing or tourism, as well as regu- et al., 2001; Shigehiro et al., 2002).

Fall 2006 Volume 40, Number 3 49

 Boat size, specifically boat capacity measured TABLE 1
through gross tonnage, is the basis for the classi-
Common classification of Philippine fishing boats.
fication of Philippine fisheries, which has two
sectors: municipal and commercial fisheries. Fishing Boat Type Length Overall Gross Tonnage
Municipal fisheries consist of boats 3 gross tons Classification (m)
and less fishing in the coastal areas and inland Municipal Non-motorized 3-7 0.1 - 0.2
waters (reservoir, lakes, rivers, ponds and the like). Motorized 5-18 0.5 - 2.9
Commercial Hulbotan (Danish Seiner) 10-25 4-30
Coastal municipal fishing ground extends to a
Basnigan (Bagnetter) 15-30 5-20
distance of 15 km measured perpendicular from Trawler 11-22 6-20
the shoreline. Commercial fisheries include boats Ring Netter 12-25 15-50
greater than 3 gross tons. The commercial fleet is Purse Seiner 20-50 40-300
further subdivided into three groups: small-scale Carrier 12-50 10-250
(greater than 3 gross tons to less than 20 gross Non-motorized 3-7 0.1 - 0.2

tons), medium scale (20 gross tons to less than

150 gross tons) and large scale (150 gross tons center hull and ubiquitous double tations is the norm. The challenge is for de-
and greater). The commercial fishing grounds outriggers. (Aguilar, 1997a) signers to consider these deficiencies and work
extend beyond the municipal fishing grounds Double outrigger indigenous fishing crafts towards improving the safety, durability and
out to the 200 kilometer limits of the Exclusive are the most popular fishing platform in use, efficiency of the existing hull forms.
Economic Zone. A summary is given in Table 1, mainly because of their affordability; the cost
and the classifications are described below. of a boat constructed by the local boat builder Non-motorized Boats
Small commercial crafts designed with is within the means of most fishermen. The Propelled either by paddle or sail, non-
outriggers include boats known as hulbot- availability of suitable logs for the dugout, motorized boats carry from one to several
hulbot (Danish seine), baby trawls, ring netters, bamboo for outriggers and other required people, depending on the fishing gear. Fish-
bagnetters, long liners and fish carriers. Some materials is another reason. With double ing gear deployed using these boats consist of
boats, such as bagnetters, are specialized for a outriggers, the craft tend to provide a more hook and line, (either single hand lines or
fishing operation, but others are multi-purpose stable working platform; the highly buoyant longlines), small gillnets, pots and traps. Spear
and carry a multitude of gear types depending hull materials and outriggers tend to make the fishing, collection of shells, sea cucumbers, sea
on the season and fishery. Medium commercial fishermen feel safe and comfortable. urchins and other gleaning activities use the
boats with outriggers include hulbot-hulbot, Observed disadvantages include a narrow boat as a platform. Paddled boats are powered
trawlers, bagnetters and ring netters. Large fish- working space, improperly matched propul- by fishermen facing forward and the paddle
ing fleets all over the archipelago have small to sion system, and a reliance on the outriggers stroke is near the side of the hull. The paddles
medium outrigger boats operating as light boats, for stability. There are other weaknesses in an are also used to steer and maneuver the boats
service boats, catchers, search and sonar boats. evolutionary type of design development such because of the absence of a rudder. Carved
Many medium and large sized boats are also as the effects of installing engines, use of mate- from a piece of wood, paddles have a cross
rented out for cargo hauling but are banned rials other than wood, and changes in hull piece at one end that serves as a handle for the
from passenger ferry operations, although inci- shape where the lack of engineering compu- fisherman. (Figure 1).
dents involving fishing boats used as ferries have
occurred. (Table 1). FIGURE 1
A non-motorized paddle propelled Philippine semi-dugout outrigger boat.

Municipal Fishing Boats

Boat designs exhibit distinct but minor
variation throughout the archipelago. There
are also some designs that are specific to
certain areas. Variations include the rake of
stem and stern. Hull shapes may be round,
flat bottomed or chined. Outrigger assem-
blies also vary in terms of materials, shape
and construction. Comparisons show that
differences between indigenous fishing
boats and modern mono-hull western fish-
ing boats are mainly due to the very narrow

50 Marine Technology Society Journal

 UUUUURE The main hull consists of are located in depths of 200 m to 2000 m. It is Medium and Large Commercial
the lower dugout with plywood sides sup- customary for fishermen to sail to a payao, tie Fishing Boats
ported by frames. Because of the small size of their boat to it and fish with hand lines. When There are still outrigger boats in this cat-
this craft, one or two pieces of small diameter the payao is harvested by larger craft using purse egory, including the basnig or lift net boats,
bamboo serve as outrigger beams connecting seine or ring nets, the smaller boats are usually the large danish seiners or “super hulbot”,
the outrigger to the main hull. The outriggers given a few kilos from the large catch. trawlers and old mono-hulls fitted with
consist of one piece each of bamboo with the outriggers. Others serve as carriers which are
outer skin removed, the fore ends capped by Motorized Boats Less Than boats dispatched to several catchers located
bullet shaped blocks of wood, and the aft ends 3 Gross Tons at the fishing grounds. The carrier loads the
cut near a convenient node. According to boat The boats most commonly used are those fish from the catchers and brings them to
builders and fishermen, removing the outer powered by single piston gasoline or diesel en- ports or processing facilities. In some instances,
skin of the bamboo makes it more durable gines from 3 to 16 horsepower. Gill nets, carriers are owned by other companies and
and long lasting. All boats, regardless of size, handlines, traps, small ring nets and other small the fish is purchased from the catchers at the
are usually painted by marine epoxy to ensure gears are operated from these craft. They are fishing ground.
a longer lifespan. Also, the boats are beached also used to transport fishermen to passive or Some of the largest outrigger boats are the
or brought out of the water after use so wood fixed gears such as set nets, fish corrals, lift nets, bagnetters or lift-netters with lengths of up to
borers are a rare occurrence. fish pens or fish cages located near the shore. 30 meters or up to 20 gross tons. A main mast
Some differences in shape occur at the stern made of a single piece of wood is located at the
and stem profiles with each boat builder hav- Small-Motorized Commercial middle of the hull and connected to the
ing their own style. The sheer line profile may Fishing Boats outriggers by large diameter stainless steel or
also differ with some boats having a curved Fishing gear such as trawls, skim nets, ring galvanized iron wire. The shelter deck con-
sheer all throughout its length while other boats nets, lift nets and danish seines are operated us- taining fishing lights, boat provisions and sup-
have a straight sheer with the curves only near ing big outrigger boats measured with more plies for overnight fishing is located forward.
the aft and fore ends of the hull. Fore and aft than 3 gross ton capacity. Engines are usually The engine is usually located amidships and
sections may also be covered with plywood to second-hand and reconditioned Fuso, sheltered by a main engine room. One large
prevent water from entering the hull, particu- Mitsubishi or Isuzu truck diesel engines. These pole extending from the main mast is used for
larly during high waves in head seas. engines rate from 80 to 240 horsepower and are hanging the lift net for easy deployment dur-
Fishing is not the sole use for sail powered converted for marine usage. In some cases, belt ing fishing. (Figure 2).
boats; regattas or sailing races have lately be- drives are also installed for driving winches Fishing operations involve a square lift net
come popular as tourist attractions. During fa- needed in fishing operations such as net and shaped like an inverted mosquito net with the
vorable monsoon weather, popular fishing gears towing warp hauling. Most crafts of these sizes corners and middle of each side attached to
for sail powered craft include trolling lines, traps, also serve as light boats, service boats and sonar hauling ropes. The net usually requires 20 or
pots, hand lines and gill nets. Many payaos or boats for commercial fishing operations. When more fishermen to man the lines for deploy-
rafts attached to fish aggregating devices are used as light boats, electrical generators powered ment and hauling. During fishing operations,
employed all throughout the archipelago. These by smaller auxiliary diesel engines are employed. fishermen stand on the outriggers to haul or
deploy the net. Lights for attracting fish are
used and a separate gasoline or diesel fueled
FIGURE 2 generator for the electrical requirements of the
fishing lamps is normally installed.
The basnigan, a large 30 m commercial fishing boat.

Total Numbers of Vessels

Scant information is available on Philip-
pine outrigger boats from Philippine govern-
ment agencies, regulatory bodies and academic
institutions. For commercial and bigger mu-
nicipal boats, data is available from the Coast
Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority,
as these have to be registered and licensed.
The only available data on municipal fish-
ing craft is from the census of 1980 and 1985.
In 1985 there were a total of 464,395 mu-
nicipal fishing boats with 193,976 motor-

Fall 2006 Volume 40, Number 3 51

TABLE 2 Hull details such as the shape of stern and
stem, shape of hull bottom and outrigger as-
Number of municipal fishing bancas, by region.
sembly are highly localized depending on the
1980 1985 style of the boat builder and the spread of the
Region Total Motorized Non-Motorized Total Motorized Non-Motorized people using the boats. For instance, the shape
NCR 3,223 2,463 760 3,553 3,046 507 of the stem and stern may vary from one coastal
I 10,894 5,258 5,636 12,720 7,519 5,201 community to the next and it is an indicator
II 6,479 999 5,480 3,085 1,138 1,947 of the origin of the fishermen or boat owner
III 16,365 9,378 6,987 21,433 13,685 7,748 because when they move from one place or
another, even from one island to another, they
IV 53,323 22,290 31,033 54,617 32,232 22,385
usually bring their boat styles with them.
V 39,739 10,727 29,012 49,303 18,563 30,740
(Aguilar, 1997a)
VI 27,524 8,788 18,736 28,327 12,882 15,445
VII 48,263 9,203 39,060 64,740 21,286 43,454
VIII 43,416 7,598 35,818 40,702 10,782 29,920 Traditional Bancas
IX 44,489 10,088 34,401 113,459 37,208 76,251 In traditional bancas, the main hull con-
X 26,775 7,028 19,747 20,370 9,288 11,082 sists of a carved log dugout on which frames are
XI 24,387 7,868 16,519 35,174 18,883 16,291 embedded. Dugouts are carved by hand tools
XII 22,961 3,402 19,559 16,912 7,464 9,448 from a suitable log although sometimes lumber
TOTAL 367,838 105,090 262,748 464,395 193,976 270,419 from hardware stores is used if there are no logs
available. Wood species commonly used to make
the dugout include the apitong (Dipterocarpus
ized and 270,419 non-motorized. The ma- usually has several understudies who assist and grandiflorus), tindalo (Afzelia rhomboidea), yakal
jority of both types of boats are found in Re- learn the skill from actual experience and ob- (Shorea astylosa), big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia
gion IX (Southern Philippine area). (Table 2— servation. Generations of boat builders exists macrophylla) and other hardwood species. If
Region XII has since been divided into Region in some coastal communities with the present the hull is motorized, the engine bed support is
XII and ARMM or the Autonomous Region boat builders having mastered the skill from carved on the dugout hull.
of Muslim Mindanao). If projected to the cur- their fathers and grandfathers. With large The stem and stern are carved from natu-
rent year using the growth rate of the 5 year nuclear families, even cousins and distant rela- rally curved trunks or branches of wood and
period, there should be more than 800,000 tives inherit boatbuilding skills. fitted to the fore and aft of the dugout. Most
municipal crafts currently. With around 1,600
coastal municipalities in the country, this av- FIGURE 3
erages to around 500 boats per coastal mu-
Generalized line drawing of the Philippine indigenous outrigger craft, the banca.
nicipality, a reasonable number if all boats in-
cluding the small non-motorized boats are
included. The highest number of motorized
and non-motorized boats is found in Regions
IV, V, VII, VIII and IX, areas that border the
inner archipelagic seas of the country. These
regions are also the highest fish producing re-
gions of the country.

Construction of the Banca

Most fishing crafts of the Philippines are
built by local boat builders without the ben-
efit of boatyards, modern equipment, power
tools, paper plans or the formal naval architec-
ture design process. Boats are constructed at
the seashore area with or without shelter mainly
within the vicinity of the boat builder’s house.
It is not unusual to have the skill handed from
generation to generation. The master builder

52 Marine Technology Society Journal

FIGURE 4 bamboos[i14] (Bambusa sp.) used are small
diameter, thick-walled stems for the beams and
Construction of a small non-motorized banca.
large diameter thin-walled ones for the
outrigger. (The beam may be made of wood
entirely but outriggers are always constructed
of bamboo). Some areas use galvanized pipe as
outrigger beams while others use PVC pipes
for the outriggers. Bamboo outriggers are re-
placed as often as every two years depending
on use and whether the bamboo outrigger
float[i15] has been painted. Figure 4 shows
the construction of a small non-motorized
banca almost 6 meters in length.

Larger Bancas for

Commercial Fishing
The bagnetter is an obvious example
of the same design scaled up. The bigger boat
naturally requires much bigger wood for the
dugout. With deforestation in most of the
islands and other environmental concerns such
craft exhibit fore and aft symmetry at their In some parts of the archipelago, the as the resulting erosion and landslides, large
waterlines. Sail and paddle powered boats are outrigger beam consists of composite pieces wooden logs for the dugout are getting diffi-
also nearly symmetrical at their profile views. made of naturally crooked branches of wood cult to source or are increasing in price. A total
For larger crafts, while the waterlines may be and bamboo lashed together by nylon log ban under Philippine law is planned, and
symmetrical, with some differences between monofilament. In other places, the beam is when implemented and strictly enforced will
the stem and stern profile occur because of the curved by heating and bending one length of result in the unavailability of logs for the larger
propeller and rudder. Naturally, dugouts of bamboo to the desired shape. Others use two dugout, leading to rebuilds of older large ves-
larger boats have to be carved from big tree lengths of bamboo that are overlapped at the sels (Figure 5).
trunks. A generalized lines drawing of the straight end, with both ends curved to attach Most of the outrigger boats are built with-
banca is shown in Figure 3, a representation to the outriggers. The most common out the benefit of plans. They are constructed
that is applicable to wide range of crafts exist-
ing in the country. FIGURE 5
Outriggers consist of bamboo floats at- An old dugout is reused because of the scarcity of big logs; all the other parts that can be sourced from
tached by two or more transverse bamboos smaller sized lumber are replaced including the frames, plywood sides, top side frame, decks and outriggers.
(referred to as outrigger beams) to the main
hull. Attachment of the outrigger assembly is
through lashings using monofilament polya-
mide (nylon) twine. Outrigger floats are lashed
to the beams and the beams lashed to the
main hull. For larger boats, galvanized wire
and thin steel rods are sometimes used. Lash-
ing tightly and securely is a critical skill in
boatbuilding since the joint must be secure
and tight enough to withstand the stresses
encountered. The major advantage of the
monofilament nylon is its slight elongation
that allows tightening when lashed properly.
It is also affordable, readily available and easy
to replace. In some cases, the nylon is painted
to lessen its degradation from sunlight. [i13]

Fall 2006 Volume 40, Number 3 53

only through the recollection and skill of the FIGURE 6
boat builder and the fishermen or owner has
Comparison of craft capacities measured in 1987 and 2003.
only to provide the length required and the
type of operation for the boat. Naturally, de-
signs are not made and the entire construction
process itself is still an art rather than a serious
engineering discipline. When outrigger craft
have been scaled up, little attention has been
paid to any performance calculations or naval
architectural analysis. For larger boats that re-
quire registration, line drawings are developed
after the boat has been built, signed by a li-
censed naval architect and submitted to the
regulation agencies. In some cases, boats origi-
nally designed and built as mono-hulls are
outfitted with outriggers in order to provide a
more seemingly stable platform while increas-
ing the capacity of the craft in terms of load-
ing gear and conducting fishing operations.
is more suitable for fisheries management be- matically (Figure 6). Most of this is due to an
cause it allows the measurement of capacity increase in hulbot-hulbot or Danish seines
Gross Tonnage and Capacity for harvesting individual species in a multi- which are all outrigger boats with capacities
of Outrigger Crafts species fishery (Pascoe et al., 2001). There are up to 50 gross tons. For this type of outrigger
A comparison between data collected in a already some initiatives to improve the craft, the design has been scaled up. This is
1987 survey where the dimensions of 592 country’s regulation and licensing system for also indicative of increased fishing effort with
outrigger crafts from Cebu, Zamboanga, and fishing vessels and this is one approach that is the greater boat capacities utilizing bigger gear
Sulu were measured and data available in 2003 being considered. and operation at a larger area.
shows how the outrigger crafts have grown in When the distribution of commercial crafts For the hulbot-hulbot particularly, the
size. The main unit of measure is the gross ton below 50 gross tons as recorded in 2003 is growth in vessel size has also been supple-
which is measured in the Philippines using plotted together with an outrigger craft data mented by the use of engine powered winches
the Coefficient method: survey done in 1987, it is clear that the num- for hauling the long warps of the gear, increas-
ber of large outrigger vessels has increased dra- ing the size of main engines and employing
GT = LBD*0.7/2.831 (1)
where:
FIGURE 7
GT = Gross Tonnage
L = Longest Length of the Boat A hulbot-hulbot outrigger craft (20 meters length overall, 35 gross tons) with a steel hull covered by
B = Widest Breadth of the Boat concrete and solid wood outrigger beams (20 centimeters to a side) at the center.

D = Deepest Depth of the Boat

The preceding formula however, does not

account for the presence of outriggers; and for
the larger boats, the outriggers represent extra
capacities included in Gross Tonnage measure-
ments. This measure of boat capacity is a very
simplistic method for the classification of fish-
eries and the management of fishing effort.
Other countries use more sophisticated pa-
rameters such as the Vessel Capacity Unit
(VCU) that combines boat dimensions with
its engine power for classification. A catch based
approach recommended by FAO (FAO,
2000) is the Data Envelopment Analysis that

54 Marine Technology Society Journal

FIGURE 8 “super-hulbot” already because of their sizes
in comparison to the original small outrigger
Heave and pitch response of the outrigger craft (C) compared to the hull without outriggers (H) at
different headings (180-head seas, 135-bow seas, 90-beam seas). “hulbot-hulbot”. In terms of instrumentation,
many boats of this size are equipped with
modern communications and fish finding
equipment for more efficient operations.

Static Stability of
Outrigger Designs
The popularity of the outrigger form in
the archipelago is mainly due to its very stable
condition in calm water. Experiments show a
very high righting arm (gz) at small angles of
heel of the outrigger when compared to the
same hull without the outrigger. Calculated
metacentric height for a 3 meter model was
4.83 meters, almost 14 times that of the hull
without the outrigger. (Shigehiro et al., 2002)
This accounts for the popularity of the form
because fishermen and passengers feel safe with
the minimal motions of the craft at small sea
states with the outrigger immediately righting
the hull. Outriggers also have an effect on the
[S.K20]draft and trim of the boat at different
initial angles of heel.

Resistance
Experiments showed that outriggers signifi-
cantly increase [S.K21]drag compared to the
same hull without outriggers. This results in in-
creased horsepower requirements particularly for
bigger crafts with large outriggers. As speed in-
creases, the difference in resistance between the
hull with outrigger and that without outrigger
also shows a linear increase. Small craft have only
one bamboo outrigger float[i22][S.K23] slightly
inclined from fore to aft but bigger boats have
up to four double layer floats with much larger
wetted area and displacement for both outriggers.
(Aguilar et al, 2001)

stronger and larger construction materials. The the country, Navotas in Metro Manila. The
efficiency of this fishing operation has led to fishing vessel shown is an outrigger hulbot- Seakeeping
its being banned in a majority of municipal hulbot, almost 35 gross tons in capacity with The outriggers have an effect on hull re-
waters all throughout the archipelago, but the a length of 20 meters and breadth of 3 meters. sponse to waves, depending on the direction
greater demand for fish has made fishermen The hull is made of steel and the deck of con- of the waves. Results of experiments at the
adjust by increasing boat sizes and operating crete. The outriggers are still made[S.K19] of National Research Institute for Fisheries En-
in areas outside of municipal waters. An ex- several bamboo bunched together but the gineering in Japan and sea trials in the Philip-
ample of this craft is shown in Figure 7, lo- outrigger beams are solid wood 20 centime- pines showed that the outrigger boat experi-
cated in the largest fishing port complex of ters to a side. These boats are even termed enced greater heave and pitch motions in head

Fall 2006 Volume 40, Number 3 55

FIGURE 9 when the value of λ/Lm is greater than this
ratio, the motion of the hull without outrigger
Heave and pitch response of the outrigger craft (C) compared to the hull without outriggers (H) at different
headings (45-quarter seas, 0-following seas) and roll motion of both at beam seas (90 degrees). is lesser. This result points to the damping
effect of the outrigger to roll motion if the
wavelength is less than the distance between
outriggers at beam seas. If the wavelength is
greater than the outrigger distance, there is an
increase in the rolling motion of the outrigger
hull compared to that without outrigger.
[S.K26] Less heave motion is exhibited by
outrigger craft in following seas without much
difference in pitch. Increase in roll motion is
exhibited when the wavelength is greater than
the outrigger distance.
The response of the hull to different
wave conditions also indicates the impor-
tance of keeping the outrigger beam struc-
ture and its attachment to the hull as reli-
able as possible. This is the main reason why
boat builders reinforce the central portion
of the outrigger beam, sometimes doubling
or even tripling the beams attached to the
main hull. Severe stresses occur at these at-
tachment points as recorded by strain gauges
placed at several points during the experi-
ment. Anecdotal evidence from survivors
of capsized double outrigger craft supports
this finding although more research on this
aspect needs to be conducted. Experiments
on the structural characteristics of trimarans
(Coppola, 2003) show also that the great-
est vertical and longitudinal shear distribu-
tion is located at the point where the main
hull connects to the outrigger beams.
Constructed of bamboo, the structural
integrity of the outrigger beams cannot be
guaranteed over a period of time. Other struc-
tures, particularly plywood at the side hulls,
are also vulnerable in cases where the material
is weakened and the structure is exposed to
seas when compared to just the hull without pitch motions at λ/Lm greater than 1. At beam abnormal loading during rough seas. This
outriggers when the wavelength to boat length seas, the outriggers result in greater heave and partially explains why incidents of capsizing
ratio (λ/Lm) is less than 1 or when the wave pitch motions.[S.K24] are so numerous when the safety record of
length is less than the craft length. However, At aft quarter seas, the presence of outrigger boats is examined over a ten year
when λ/Lm is greater than 1 or the wave- outriggers amplifies both heave and pitch period (Figure 10).
length is greater than the craft length, the pres- motions of the craft. At following seas,[S.K25] In the presence of large waves or during
ence of outriggers has a damping effect with less heave motion is exhibited by outrigger typhoons, structural failure of the outrigger
lower pitch and heave motions for the craft without much difference in pitch. For beams almost always results in capsizing. (Sigua
outrigger craft. At bow seas, outriggers result rolling motion at beam seas when the value of and Aguilar, 1999). Safety concerns point to
in less heave response with λ/Lm less than 1, λ/Lm is less than the ratio of the distance be- the need for the imposition of limits on the
less heave but greater pitch at λ/Lm = 1 but tween outriggers to wavelength, the roll mo- wooden, semi-dugout outriggers either
show almost the same response to heave and tion of the hull with outrigger is lesser but through size or horsepower limits.

56 Marine Technology Society Journal

FIGURE 10 resource. There is also a more urgent need to
address the safety concerns over the dispro-
Record of maritime incidents in the Philippines from 1991 to 2000.
portionate number of motorized bancas that
capsize. This should involve establishing op-
erating criteria for fishing in areas with heavy
maritime traffic; disseminating information to
fishing operators and fishermen about the need
for increased safety preparedness due to the
nature of the Philippine outrigger form.

Acknowledgement
This paper was supported in part by a
University of the Philippines Diamond Jubi-
lee Professorial Chair.

References
Changes in Fisheries and compromise may be necessary between com- Aguilar, G. D., Shigehiro, R., Yamakoshi, Y.
Fishing Vessels mercial fishing operators and the municipal and Kuroda, T. 2002. Safety related character-
Beginning approximately 10 years ago, fishermen, such as fleet-type operations or the istics of Philippine indigenous outrigger crafts.
there has been a consistent decline in mu- contracting of catching services. For many Fisheries Sci. 68(Sup II):1819-1882.
nicipal fisheries production (Bureau of Agri- commercial operations, the challenge would
cultural Statistics). This trend indicates the be to find areas far offshore and outside the Aguilar, G. D. 1997a. Comparative survey of
depletion of fish resources in most of the 15 kilometer limit. Within Philippine waters, hull forms of indigenous fishing crafts. UPV J
coastal areas because of the proximity to the the NE Philippine waters and Luzon Sea as Nat Sci. 2(1):20-58.
population, the increasing number of fisher- well as waters west of Palawan are viewed as Aguilar, G. D. 1997b. Computer modeling of
men and amount of fishing effort and the development areas where the commercial fleets indigenous fishing crafts. UPV J Nat Sci.
consistent environmental degradation of the displaced by the law could perhaps operate. 2(1):59-80.
marine waters. Management of fishery re- The large outrigger boats currently used by
sources is identified as the most crucial ele- these commercial fishermen may not be suit- Aguilar, G. D. 2000. Philippine Fishing Vessels
ment to effectively sustain production. Prob- able for these open areas. and the Fisheries Code of 1998: Issues and
lems related to management include the For all crafts operating in Philippine wa- Challenges. In: Proceedings of the 3rd JSPS
inability to enforce laws and regulations, de- ters, it is necessary to implement registration International Conference on Fisheries Science
structive fishing practices such as dynamite and licensing to have an accurate estimate of for Tropical Areas, Sustainable Fishing
and cyanide fishing, non-optimized gears and fishing effort. Such information, when Technology in Asia towards the 21st Century.
lack of information about the existing re- coupled with biological data on fishery stocks, pp. 279-289. Tokyo: TUF Intl JSPS Proj.
sources and state of the environment. can be very useful in instituting effective man- Aguilar, G. D. 2000. Some Marine Transport
Before the Fisheries Code, the exploita- agement schemes for a sustainable fisheries. Concerns. Public Policy 4(1):93-119.
tion of fishing grounds was basically open ac- The registration system must also include in-
cess where anybody can fish anywhere with- spections to determine seaworthiness and the Aguilar, G. D. 2004. Philippine fishing boats.
out any control. This is consistently pointed presence of basic safety equipment on board In: DA-BFAR. In turbulent seas: The status of
out as the main reason for the depletion of these fishing crafts. Philippine Marine Fisheries. pp. 118-
most of our fishery resources. Commercial fish- Given all these challenges in operating 121.Cebu City: Coastal Resource Manage-
ermen can no longer operate and catch at tra- conditions and the tendency of fishermen and ment Project of the DENR. 378 pp.
ditional grounds during the peak season, lead- boat builders to adapt their boats and opera- Aguilar, G. D., Shigehiro, R.., Yamakoshi, Y.
ing to loss of business. On the other hand, the tions in order to survive or turn a profit, it is and Kuroda, T. 2002. Safety related character-
municipal fishermen using much smaller boats essential to c onduct further research on the istics of Philippine indigenous outrigger crafts.
must be able to harvest such schools with nature of these crafts. Results of this research Fisheries Sci. 68(Sup II): 1819-1882.
greater capacity, requiring better gear and there- can then be translated into information for
fore higher capitalization. Since such capital is boat builders, standards for regulatory agen-
found in the richer commercial fishery, some cies and recommendations to managers of the

Fall 2006 Volume 40, Number 3 57

Aguilar, G. D., Shigehiro, R. and Kuroda, T. Rafni, Y. N., Pasaribu, B.P. and Panjaitan, J.P.
2001. Resistance Characteristics of Philippine 2000. A study on the heaving motion of purse
Outrigger Fishing Craft. UPV J Nat Sci. 6:46-54. seiner in following seas regular waves. In:
Proceedings of the 3rd JSPS International
Blair, E. and Robertson, J. 1903. The
Conference on Fisheries Science for Tropical
Philippine Islands, 1462-1898. Cleveland:
Areas, Sustainable Fishing Technology in Asia
A. Clark Co. pp. 2-54.
towards the 21st Century. pp. 306-311.
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. Various Tokyo: TUF Intl JSPS Proj.
years. Fisheries Statistics. Manila: Bureau of
Shigehiro, R., Aguilar, G. D. and Kuroda, T.
Agricultural Statistics.
2002. Evaluation method of seakeeping
Coppola, T., Mandarino, M. and Simeone, F. performance for training ships from the
2003. On the preliminary analysis for trimaran viewpoint of passenger comfort. Fisheries Sci.
structural design. In: Proceedings of FAST 68(Sup II):1827-1830.
2003, The 7th International Conference on
Shigehiro, R., Aguilar, G. D., Kuroda, T.,
FAST SEA TRANSPORTATION. pp. 53-60.
Kawai, A. and Matsuda, A. 2002. Characteris-
Ischia (Italy).
tics of Maneuvering Motions of Philippine
FAO. 2000. Report of the technical consulta- Outrigger Craft. J of the Kansai Society of
tion on the measurement of fishing capacity. Naval Architects, Japan. 238:113-120.
FAO Fisheries Report No. 615 (FIPP/
Shigehiro, R., Aguilar, G.D. and Kuroda, T.
R615(En)). Rome: FAO.
2001. Turning Performance of Outrigger Craft
Iskandar, B. H., Pasaribu, B. P. 2000. Basic in the Philippines. UPV J Nat Sci. 6:55-68.
study on the hull form characteristics and
Sigua, R. and Aguilar, G. D. 1999. Marine
static stability of small fishing boats in the
Transportation and Safety. In: Jay Batongbacal
coastal area of Java island. In: Proceedings of
(ed.) Archipelagic Studies Charting New
the 3rd JSPS International Conference on
Waters, pp. 71-86. Quezon City: UP Press.
Fisheries Science for Tropical Areas, Sustain-
able Fishing Technology in Asia towards the
21st Century. pp. 294-300. Tokyo: TUF Intl
JSPS Proj.

Jons, O.P, Fuller, G.D. and Letourneau, R.M.

1987. Stability-related guidance for the
commercial fishermen. SNAME Transactions
95:215-238.

Lim, C.P., Matsuda, Y. and Shigemi, Y. 1995.

Problems And Constraints In Philippine
Municipal Fisheries: The Case Of San Miguel
Bay, Camarines Sur. Environmental Management
19(6):837-852.

Pascoe, S., Coglan, L. and Mardle, L. 2001.

Physical versus harvest-based measures of
capacity: the case of the United Kingdom
vessel capacity unit system. ICES J Mar Sci.
58:1243-1252.

58 Marine Technology Society Journal

View publication stats