Construction of the world's first 100,000-ton large-scale fish farming ship started in Qingdao of East China's Shandong Province in December 2020, according to local news. Funded by the state-owned Qingdao Conson Development Group Co., the vessel, named Guoxin No.1, is expected to be delivered in March 2022 and will raise fish far from China's shores, supplying near-limitless farmed fish without polluting the environment.
The Conson Group plans to invest in the construction of an aquaculture armada consisting of 50 such ships with a gross tonnage of 100,000 tons each, with an annual output value exceeding Ұ11 billion ($1.68 billion).
With a length of 249.9 meters, a width of 45 meters and a designed speed of 10 knots, the vessel is able to avoid typhoons, red tides and other severe weather and disasters, conducting aquaculture operations in seas around the world. Depending on the seasons and water temperatures, Guoxin No.1 will cruise in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea all year round, cultivating high-quality fish such as giant yellow fish.
Since 2019, Qingdao Conson Development Group Co has been collaborating with China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the world's largest shipbuilder, Pilot National Laboratory of Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), and the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences to design and build the ship.