A 30-Year-Old Panamax Transformed into Fish Farm, with Plans to Convert 3 Capesize Bulkers

Introducing Zhedai Yuyang 60001, the world’s first ocean-going fish farming vessel, a near 30-year-old Panamax bulk carrier transformed into a cutting-edge marine farm! Officially launched on July 20, 2025, this vessel marks a pivotal innovation in the sustainable use of old ships. This transformation provides a blueprint for the shipping industry to repurpose aging vessels, extending their operational life while contributing to the growing blue economy.

Ship Transformation: Originally a 1996-built Panamax vessel, now repurposed into a state-of-the-art fish farm with 7 breeding chambers and innovative open-sea technology that can hold 80,000 cubic meters of water, equivalent to 200 deep-water cages.

Smart Farming Technology: Equipped with a real-time intelligent management system that monitors water temperature, oxygen levels, and environmental conditions to optimize feeding, harvesting, and disaster prevention, ensuring a sustainable and efficient farming process.

Efficient Operations: The vessel follows fish migration patterns, moving between various Chinese coastal regions, ensuring optimal water temperatures. It can operate year-round, transitioning between northern and southern seas based on seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Future Plans:
The company, Senhai Muge (Zhejiang) Marine Technology, plans to convert 3 more Capesize bulk carriers into fish farming vessels. These vessels will further expand their fleet and lead the charge in the marine aquaculture industry. This ambitious plan aligns with the company’s goal of building a full industrial chain that integrates shipping, marine farming, and sustainability.

Sustainable Innovation:
This transformation offers a sustainable solution for the reuse of aging ships, turning them into environmentally friendly, revenue-generating assets. By converting older vessels into functional farming platforms, the company significantly reduces construction costs, lowering the investment required by 70% per cubic meter of farming space.

Market Potential:
With over 1,500 suitable aging ships available for transformation in China alone, this model holds the potential to create a trillion-dollar marine farming market in the future. These converted vessels will support the growing demand for sustainable seafood and provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional farming methods.

This success story not only sets a new standard for ship recycling but also offers a vision for the future of sustainable shipping. As the global maritime industry moves towards green shipping solutions, this model could play a key role in fostering a circular economy in the shipping and marine sectors.

by Xinde Marine News Chen Yang

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