VESSEL REVIEW | Luji Yuyang 60617 – Chinese deep-sea aquaculture vessel fitted with intelligent operating technology

China's Qingdao Conson Development recently took delivery of a new aquaculture vessel capable of operating in deep-sea areas.

Luji Yuyang 60617 (鲁即渔养60617; “Luji Fishery 60617”) has a length of 244.9 metres (803.5 feet), a beam of 45 metres (150 feet), a draught of 15 metres (49 feet), and a displacement of 150,000 tonnes.

Intelligent system for streamlined breeding

The vessel features 15 breeding cages with a total capacity of nearly 100,000 cubic metres (3.5 million cubic feet). This gives it a total annual output of about 3,600 tonnes of high-quality fish of various species such as large yellow croaker and salmon.

The onboard facilities also include four circular runway pools and 22 breeding test pools. An intelligent aquaculture system is fitted to ensure that the breeding of the fish can be undertaken even without human intervention, while the propulsion allows the vessel to reach deep-sea farming sites under its own power.

Upgrade of a proven design

Luji Yuyang 60617 is an improved variant of Luji Yuyang 60616, an earlier aquaculture vessel with a displacement of 100,000 tonnes. Compared to its predecessor, the overall layout, fishability, safety and operational accuracy of the newer vessel has been significantly improved.

The overall mechanisation rate of the vessel was increased to more than 90 per cent, the level of automation was increased by 45 per cent, the rate of intelligent substitution of farming decision-making reached 30 per cent, and the cost of labour was reduced by 20 per cent.

Luji Yuyang 60617 was built by CSSC Beihai Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, in compliance with China Classification Society rules.