COSCO SHIPPING is expanding vegetable cultivation aboard its ships, moving from individual trials to a broader rollout across its container, dry bulk, energy and specialised shipping businesses. The programme combines compact hydroponic units, aeroponic systems and containerised gardens to provide crews with fresh leafy vegetables during long voyages, with equipment already supplied to dozens of vessels and further installations planned.

The initiative addresses a practical limitation of conventional provisioning: leafy vegetables have a relatively short storage life, while some ocean voyages extend well beyond the period in which those supplies remain fresh. Growing vegetables onboard adds a recurring source of fresh produce to food loaded in port and forms part of the group’s wider programme to improve seafarers’ living conditions.

Expansion across four shipping businesses

According to rollout figures published in late October, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers has supplied 158 small hydroponic units to 52 multipurpose and heavy lift vessels. It has also supplied vegetable growing containers for 11 ships and plans to equip all vessels under its own management by the end of 2026.

COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation has installed soilless cultivation equipment on 19 vessels engaged in international, long distance trades, with plans to increase that number to 30 by year-end. In the container business, COSCO SHIPPING Lines has identified 28 existing vessels and newbuildings for installation following a pilot aboard the containership COSCO SHIPPING VOLGA.

The dry bulk business is also bringing the equipment into its newbuilding programme, with an installation planned for a new bulk carrier. Across the four businesses, the rollout covers both equipment added to ships already in service and installations incorporated at the newbuilding stage, with the choice of system adapted to vessel layout, available space and trading pattern.

Aeroponics and container gardens

The pilot aboard COSCO SHIPPING VOLGA uses aeroponic cultivation, in which a mist containing water and nutrients is delivered to plant roots without soil. The installation combines temperature control with nutrient solution circulation, allowing vegetables to grow in a compact space under controlled conditions.

Hop Hing Marine Industrial (Hong Kong) Limited, a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING (Hong Kong), supplies intelligent marine aeroponic systems used in the group’s container and energy businesses. Its equipment combines vertical growing racks with automated controls. According to the project description, the design also addresses shipboard conditions including rolling, pitching, vibration and salt exposure through equipment securing, corrosion protection and measures to support reliable operation at sea.

A different arrangement is used aboard Xin Guang Hua, the group’s semi-submersible heavy lift vessel. Its containerised garden, located on E deck, uses soil cultivation, with four tiers of growing racks on each side and 81 planting trays in total. LED lighting supports crops including lettuce, pak choi, Chinese leaf lettuce, coriander and water spinach. The installation illustrates how a larger enclosed growing space can accommodate several vegetable varieties, alongside the smaller soilless units being deployed elsewhere in the fleet.

More than 15 kg from the first harvest

On Xin Guang Hua’s 44th voyage, the first crop yielded more than 15 kg of leafy vegetables. COSCO SHIPPING reported that fresh leafy greens remained available throughout the voyage through Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Its account of the trial described a growing period of a little over 20 days from sowing to the first harvest.

The crew prepared the growing medium before departure, including loosening, fertilising and treating the soil, and checked the irrigation, lighting and temperature control systems. During the voyage, crew members monitored crop growth and maintained the garden with guidance from shore. Harvested vegetables were incorporated into meals served onboard.

The vessel is adopting staggered sowing and regrowth from retained roots to maintain successive harvests. At the time of the reported update, a second crop had emerged and a third sowing had been completed. This approach makes the planting schedule an operational part of maintaining fresh produce availability over an extended voyage.

Integrating cultivation into vessel support

The expansion places onboard vegetable growing within routine crew support rather than leaving it solely to individual shipboard initiatives. Different systems serve different layouts: small hydroponic units can be distributed among vessels, aeroponic racks make use of limited interior space, and containerised gardens provide a dedicated cultivation area where a suitable location is available.

The programme also combines equipment supply with continuing shipboard work. Crews undertake sowing, crop care, harvesting and basic system checks, supported by shore personnel. On Xin Guang Hua, the container garden is being incorporated into regular logistical support arrangements. As installations expand across the group, that combination of suitable equipment, successive planting and routine maintenance will underpin the programme’s ability to provide fresh vegetables throughout long voyages.