The world's first 150,000-deadweight tonnage (DWT) smart aquaculture vessel Guoxin 2-1, a floating fish farm, is under construction in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province, and set to be operational in 2025.
The mega vessel measures 245 meters in length and 45 meters in width. It has 15 breeding cabins, each larger than two standard swimming pools. As a sister ship of "Guoxin 1", "Guoxin 2-1" has carried out more than 160 optimizations and innovations in terms of functional layout and new energy utilization.
Guoxin 1 has sailed for nearly 14,000 nautical miles to the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea where different fish can be cultivated in their ideal temperatures and produced 2,700 tons of yellow croakers since its launch in May 2022.
"While retaining the hoisting method, we have employed an approach of side entry to send fish fry into the cabin. Holes are added on ship's side so that the fish fry can be directly transported to the breeding cabins, which greatly improves the efficiency and also reduces the damage rate," said Tian Neidong, a project director of Guoxin China Shipbuilding Qingdao Marine Technology.
In order to realize intelligent fish farming, the tanks are centrally controlled. Operations on board the ship are monitored with underwater cameras, sensors and a self-feeding system, as well as connectivity with the company's shore-based offices to monitor the fish.
The fish rearing density in the tanks is four to six times higher than in traditional aquaculture cages and the aquaculture cycle is shortened by 30 percent. In addition, the fish survival rate and the rate of weight gain are also increased.
"We have installed more than 2,000 sensors in various areas of the ship, which can transmit different data such as water temperature, water quality, and oxygen content in the breeding cabins to the monitoring room in real time, and then transmit it to the shore-based monitoring center through the ship-shore integrated system, realizing the interconnection between the aquaculture vessels and the land, and among the aquaculture ships," said Tian.
World's first 150,000-DWT offshore fish farming vessel to go operational in 2025
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
