On 19 November, Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bestway Marine & Energy Technology, delivered “Zhanjiang Bay No.1” to Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory. The unit is the world’s first floating dynamically positioned aquaculture vessel, combining a workboat and integrated cage systems into a single platform and introducing five defined technical innovations for intensive, intelligent, and low-impact marine farming.
The vessel measures 154 m in length and 44 m in width, holding 80,000 m³ of aquaculture water. Its configuration supports simultaneous cultivation of multiple species, including high-value fish such as grouper and tuna, with an annual production capacity of 2,000 tonnes.
The platform incorporates several innovations across core areas.
The first expands usable aquaculture areas by removing depth limitations, allowing flexible site selection across wider offshore regions and easing pressure on coastal zones.
A second centers on safety, applying dynamic positioning and autonomous navigation to form an active avoidance system capable of responding to severe weather, including typhoons.
Another integrates 80,000 m³ of intensive breeding space with 12 independent areas and full-process intelligent management designed to support consistent, efficient production.
A complementary innovation introduces a tiered layout supported by an integrated air–land–sea communication network and a shore–sea IoT platform for coordinated aquaculture operations.
The final innovation focuses on green operation, combining wind–solar hybrid power, photovoltaic panels, vertical-axis wind turbines, and a HDPE transparent mesh system that supports natural water exchange and reduces exposure to nearshore pollution.
“Zhanjiang Bay No.1” is the first deep-water heavy aquaculture platform designed for operation across all sea areas. Its development reflects China’s work in marine fishery resource utilization, ecological protection technologies, and high-end offshore equipment manufacturing, integrating intelligent and environmentally oriented engineering concepts.
