On November 15, the 150,000-ton intelligent fishery large-scale aquaculture vessel “Guoxin 1号 2-2”, invested and constructed by Qingdao Guoxin Group and built by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, was officially delivered and put into operation, named “Lu Jiyu Yang 60618”.
From the global first aquaculture vessel “Guoxin 1号” setting sail to break new ground, to the iterative innovation of the 2.0 version aquaculture vessel “2-1”, and now to the delivery and inclusion of “Guoxin 1号 2-2”, the “Three-Vessel Linkage” marks China’s entry into a new stage of intelligent, standardized, and industrialized operation for deep-sea aquaculture vessels.
Qingdao Guoxin Group deeply grasps the strategic connotation of building a strong maritime nation and courageously shoulders the mission of leading the construction of a modern marine city. The operation and systematic development of the “Guoxin 1号” series of aquaculture vessels are key moves in implementing the decisions and deployments of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government regarding promoting the high-quality development of the marine economy. “Vessel Aquaculture” provides engine power for building the “Blue Granary”, strongly driving the synergistic upgrade and cluster development of the entire industrial chain, including upstream feed processing, marine engineering equipment, intelligent systems, high-end new materials, and downstream cold chain logistics and mass consumption. It provides solid support and a practical model for Qingdao to seize the strategic high ground in global deep-sea industrialized aquaculture.
“Guoxin 1号 2-2” has a total length of 244.9 meters, a displacement of 150,000 tons, a farming water volume of nearly 100,000 cubic meters, and is equipped with 15 standard aquaculture tanks as well as multiple circular raceway ponds and experimental aquaculture ponds. The four major systems – feed input, processing, deep water intake, and mature fish unloading – have undergone deep upgrades. It will also conduct the first year-round continuous salmonid aquaculture trials on a vessel, establishing a new model of land-sea coordinated development for the entire industrial chain from “seed selection and breeding – aquaculture production – deep processing – brand marketing”. Relying on its mature fish farming and large-sized seedling supply capabilities, it is expected to address the shortcomings in China’s salmonid industry and achieve industrial transformation and upgrading.
As a pathfinder, Qingdao Guoxin Group’s “Guoxin 1号” aquaculture vessel has been operating stably for over 1200 days, accumulating nearly 19,000 nautical miles of sailing, with an output value exceeding 300 million yuan. Key environmental parameters such as water flow velocity, dissolved oxygen, and water depth within the onboard aquaculture tanks are controlled throughout the process. It has evaded disasters such as typhoons and red tides more than 30 times. The overall mechanization rate of the entire vessel exceeds 90%, automation level has increased by 45%, and the intelligent substitution rate for aquaculture decision-making has reached 30%, verifying the safety and the vessel-based tank farming model.
Simultaneously, the entire process from seedling rearing to sales has achieved standardized and normalized operation. The vessel’s large yellow croaker achieves year-round continuous supply. Its product, “Guoxin Aquatic Products · Yuxianfang” deep-sea freely swimming large yellow croaker, is widely recognized, selected for Shandong’s high-end brand cultivation list, and has received national honors such as “Distinctive Agricultural Product” and “Famous, Special, Excellent, New”. It has also obtained multiple international certifications including ASC and HACCP. Sales scale continues to expand, building an integrated omni-channel system covering /catering, retail, gifts, and exports, successfully opening up a complete pathway from deep-sea aquaculture to the high-end consumer market. Guoxin Large Yellow Croaker has become a representative of high-quality seafood, reaching more consumers’ tables. Since 2025, retail business has increased by 68% year-on-year. The sales network covers 23 provinces and cities in China and countries including the US, Canada, South Korea, and Singapore, with export value increasing by 100% year-on-year.
While achieving fleet operation, Qingdao Guoxin Group is simultaneously promoting systematic construction, propelling China’s deep-sea aquaculture into a new stage of standardization, intelligence, and innovation.
In terms of standardization construction, the team systematically compiled the “Multi-Species Vessel Aquaculture Process Manual” and innovatively implemented the “Two 30-Day” standardized aquaculture management model. This has achieved a nearly 50% reduction in cumulative mortality within 30 days of fry entering the tanks, and the survival rate in stocked tanks remains stable above 90%, exceeding the targets set by the National Key R&D Program.
In terms of intelligent construction, in collaboration with institutions like the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, they have developed and applied 6 sets of intelligent tank farming equipment, constructing an intelligent aquaculture center for “Land-Sea Coordination and Vessel-Vessel Linkage”, significantly improving aquaculture precision and operational efficiency.
In terms of innovation system construction, focusing on industrial needs, Guoxin Group has led and participated in 3 national-level projects and 11 provincial-level projects, resulting in over 60 independent R&D achievements. They have established 14 innovation platforms and accumulated 102 related intellectual property rights, building an application-oriented technological innovation system.
With the formal delivery of the “Guoxin 1号 2-2” aquaculture vessel, Qingdao Guoxin Group has established an industrialized operation pattern of “Three-Vessel Linkage” centered on the three large aquaculture vessels “Guoxin 1号”, “Guoxin 1号 2-1”, and “Guoxin 1号 2-2”. This marks a strategic leap for China’s deep-sea aquaculture industry from single-vessel trials to multi-vessel coordinated operation. The total annual production capacity is expected to exceed 10,000 tons, enabling stable supply of high-value fish such as large yellow croaker, Atlantic salmon, and yellowtail amberjack.
Building on the new starting point of “Three-Vessel Linkage”, Qingdao Guoxin Group, jointly with more than ten authoritative institutions including Laoshan Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, and Ocean University of China, is co-establishing cross-disciplinary innovation consortia such as the “Deep Blue Fisheries Industry Research Institute” to promote the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, and to develop more high-quality aquaculture species suitable for the deep-sea environment. They will continue to focus on the core categories of “Large Yellow Croaker”, “Atlantic Salmon”, and “Tilapia”, striving to build them into nationally leading aquatic product brands. Through industrial chain synergy, they aim to comprehensively drive the overall upgrade and cluster development from seedlings and feed to deep processing and cold chain logistics. The goal is to comprehensively enhance China’s supply guarantee capacity for high-quality protein, promote the transformation of traditional fisheries towards modernization, systematization, and intelligence, and contribute a solid “Guoxin Solution” and “Qingdao Strength” to building a strong maritime nation.
