AMC’s Circulating Water Channel (CWC) is used for a wide range of training, research and development activities associated with fishing gear, and surface and underwater vessels. In normal use, fishing gear is towed through a body of water over a stationary bottom, which normally makes gear testing a large scale operation.

The CWC the only one in the southern hemisphere, achieves the same relative movement by moving the body of water and bottom past stationary fishing gear. Much of the complexity of the CWC is involved in ensuring that the water in the test area is turbulence free, to provide reproducible testing conditions.

A cost-effective alternative to full scale gear trials is available through the use of scale models in the CWC. Model tests can provide information on the effects of rigging changes and the forces acting on various gear components, allowing modifications to be determined for the full-scale gear.

Further technical details can be obtained from the AMHRC site or from the facility manager:

John Wakeford
Flume Tank Manager
Locked Bag 1408
Launceston TAS 7250
Phone : +61 (0)3 6324 9468
Fax : +61 (0)3 6324 9459