**Longline** vessels (or drift fishing) are one of the most selective and efficient commercial fishing methods in the world. Unlike trawlers that sweep the sea, this method uses a very long mainline—reaching tens to hundreds of kilometers—equipped with thousands of baited hooks on branch lines.

Main Types of Longline Vessels

Longline fleets are broadly categorized based on target species and the depth of the fishing gear operated:

Pelagic Longliner (Surface Drift)

Operates in the upper to mid-water column. This type of vessel is the backbone of the **Sashimi-Grade Tuna** (Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye) and swordfish industry. This vessel deploys floating fishing lines carried by ocean currents using radio buoys.

Demersal Longliner (Bottom Drift)

Designed to drop fishing lines to the seabed using weights. Its main targets are high-value deep-sea fish such as **Cod, Halibut, and Patagonian Toothfish**. Requires a strong working deck and a pulling system that can withstand seabed pressure.

Supporting Technologies in Modern Longline Vessels

1. Line Hauler (Line Pulling Machine)

An advanced hydraulic system that automatically pulls the main line over tens of miles onto the vessel at a constant speed, minimizing crew fatigue.

2. Auto-Baiting System

An automatic baiting machine capable of baiting thousands of hooks in a short time while the line is set into the sea.

3. Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezers

For Tuna Longline vessels, caught fish are immediately cleaned and frozen at **-60°C** to maintain meat quality equivalent to fresh fish for the Japanese Sashimi market.

Main Longline Fleet Flags Worldwide

PT Samuel Jaya Maritim has access to crew placement for leading longline fleets dominating the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans: