A semi-submersible intelligent aquaculture platform, the first of its kind in Zhejiang province, is unveiled on July 10 at a terminal in Xiangshan county, Ningbo. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

A semi-submersible intelligent aquaculture platform, the first of its kind in Zhejiang province, was unveiled on July 10 at a terminal in Xiangshan county, Ningbo.

Developed through a collaboration between the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhuhai Gesheng Technology Co Ltd, this cutting-edge platform was constructed at a cost of 73 million yuan ($10.04 million).

It is poised to yield 900,000 premium marine products annually, most notably the coveted yellow croaker, with an estimated total value of around 40 million yuan.

Measuring 82 meters in length, 32 meters in width, and 22 meters in height, the platform operates at depths ranging from 13 to 15 meters, housing a substantial aquaculture water volume of 36,000 cubic meters — equivalent to more than six standard basketball courts.

Wei Shunbing, one of the platform's designers, emphasized that the platform "is highly intelligent and designated for deployment in the southeastern waters of Xiangshan county, offering exceptional stability as well as strong wind and wave resilience."

Engineered to withstand severe weather conditions, the platform can endure typhoons of magnitude 16 to 17. It is also equipped with an intelligent aquaculture information system, facilitating remote terrestrial management and requiring just four on-site personnel for routine oversight. Once operational, the platform will automate feeding processes through advanced seawater data analysis and utilize underwater robots for net maintenance. Additionally, by integrating photovoltaic technology with energy storage solutions, the platform achieves self-sufficiency in clean energy production at sea.

Cai Zhizhou, deputy director of the Ningbo Marine Industry Promotion Bureau at the Ningbo Marine Economic Development Demonstration Zone, revealed plans to launch two to three similar platforms in Xiangshan to bolster deep-sea aquaculture initiatives, marking a significant stride forward in the development of marine fisheries.