On November 19, the world’s first floating power-positioning cage-type work vessel “Zhanjiang Bay No.1”, built by Tianhai Fusion’s wholly-owned subsidiary Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. for Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory, was officially delivered in Zhanjiang Bay. Leaders and expert representatives from various levels attended to witness this important milestone in the field of marine aquaculture equipment.
Tianhai Fusion President Zhan Jinfeng, speaking on behalf of the builder, stated that the successful delivery of “Zhanjiang Bay No.1” is a vivid practice of implementing the important concepts of “establishing a broad food view” and “seeking food from the ocean.” As the core manufacturing platform of Tianhai Fusion, Dajin Heavy Industry relies on its “four bases, one supporting facility, two centers” industrial layout, and has deeply cultivated and accumulated profound experience in the field of marine ranch equipment. This deep cooperation with Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory helps achieve the original mission of “writing the laboratory’s thesis on the vast sea.”
During the project advancement, both parties used “proactive communication + deep collaboration” to solve three major core technical challenges: First, overcoming the challenge of net design and adaptation under special hydrological environments. In response to the complex marine conditions of Zhanjiang’s waters, the project team, carrying measured data, conducted multiple rounds of joint demonstrations with suppliers. Through a series of sample tests, they ultimately customized a specialized net solution with excellent tensile resistance, corrosion resistance, and storm resistance. Second, achieving the deep integration and integration of multi-source intelligent subsystems. Faced with compatibility challenges regarding interfaces, data, and operational rhythms among subsystems from different suppliers, the team organized on-site collaboration from all parties. By meticulously梳理 the联动 relationships and optimizing core program logic, they ensured the efficient and seamless connection of the entire intelligent aquaculture system. Third, completing the首次 integration and precise deployment of the fish school monitoring system. The team started by消化 technical drawings, jointly conducted repeated simulations with the design institute and equipment manufacturers, and through on-board field measurement and positioning, achieved the precise installation of all sensors and the stable operation of the system.
As the world’s first aquaculture platform integrating work vessel and cage design, “Zhanjiang Bay No.1” (ship number “Yue Poyu Yang 90001”) was independently developed by the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang) and built by Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. It pioneers a new paradigm of intensive, intelligent, and green aquaculture with five major innovative breakthroughs.
“Zhanjiang Bay No.1” has an overall length of 154 meters, a width of 44 meters, a molded depth of 24.25 meters, a maximum aquaculture draft of 20 meters, and an aquaculture water volume of 80,000 cubic meters, equivalent to the water volume of 32 standard swimming pools. It can simultaneously culture multiple fish species, with an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons of valuable fish such as croaker and tuna, enabling multi-species synchronous farming. Its core innovative highlights are significant:
Aquaculture Space Expansion Innovation: Breaking through water depth limitations, achieving flexible site selection for aquaculture across all sea areas, breaking the constraints of nearshore space, and unleashing the potential for deep-sea aquaculture.
Safety Protection Technology Innovation: Equipped with dynamic positioning and autonomous navigation systems, constructing an active disaster avoidance system capable of intelligently avoiding typhoons and other disasters, fundamentally changing the passive risk resistance situation of traditional aquaculture.
Scale and Efficiency Enhancement Innovation: Creating an intensive aquaculture space of 80,000 cubic meters with 12 independent aquaculture zones, achieving an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons; combined with full-process intelligent management and control, it enables precision aquaculture, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and enhancing quality.
Industrial Operation Model Innovation: Constructing a gradient aquaculture layout, scientifically planning marine space resources; relying on an integrated air-space-ground-sea communication network, building a shore-sea integrated smart IoT platform, promoting the modernization transformation of the industry.
Green Ecological Development Innovation: Driven by clean wind and solar energy composed of photovoltaic panels and vertical axis wind turbines for low-carbon operation, paired with an HPDE fully permeable net system for efficient seawater exchange; located away from nearshore polluted areas, utilizing natural purification to reduce diseases, achieving a win-win for both ecology and economy.
At the delivery ceremony, Dajin Heavy Industry solemnly presented the key of “Zhanjiang Bay No.1” to Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory, marking the official “homing” of this “mobile marine ranch” in the deep blue; China Classification Society issued the offshore mobile platform classification certificate; PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited delivered the equipment and biological material insurance policies; China Development Bank, Bank of China Limited, and Agricultural Bank of China Limited presented credit plaques to the marine ranch company, jointly safeguarding the project’s operation.
It is understood that “Zhanjiang Bay No.1” is an offshore aquaculture equipment combining a column-stabilized truss platform with a ship-type bow and stern. The main structure is fully welded, featuring a forecastle, wheelhouse, accommodation block, poop deck, vertical stem, and transom stern. The platform’s stern is equipped with two full-rotation rudder propellers, and the bow is equipped with two lateral thrusters. It adopts a full electric propulsion system, a floating dynamic positioning system, and a temporary mooring system. It uses the floating dynamic positioning system to achieve fixed-position aquaculture. When environmental conditions do not meet aquaculture requirements, the platform’s propulsion system can be used for relocation or emergency typhoon avoidance. The platform will primarily be used for experimental farming of oceanic fish such as golden pompano, amberjack, and tuna.
Addressing the special requirements of the working environment in deep-sea aquaculture areas, this platform, through a multi-energy complementary self-supply intelligent management mechanism, proposes a South China Sea-wide fishery aquaculture model of “primarily static, combined with dynamic movement.” It conducts aquaculture experimental research featuring “offshore semi-submersible aquaculture, floating dynamic positioning, autonomous navigation for typhoon avoidance, green energy supply, comfortable personnel accommodation, and intelligent system functions,” creating a常态化 floating dynamic positioning comprehensive offshore test platform. This breaks the constraints of water depth on fishery aquaculture areas in the South China Sea and leads the marine fishery aquaculture industry towards the deep and far sea.
After delivery, “Zhanjiang Bay No.1” will soon set sail in the South China Sea, coordinating and linking with already operational aquaculture platforms like “Hengyi No.1” to jointly build protein-rich “marine granaries,” injecting strong momentum into the transformation and upgrading of China’s fishery industry and the sustainable development of South China Sea resources. Dajin Heavy Industry will take this as a new starting point, continuously deepening its efforts in the field of high-end marine equipment, and contribute more “Dajin Intelligent Manufacturing” strength to national food security and the maritime power strategy.
