To keep Taiwan's sustainable fisheries pilot infrastructure in line with international standards, the Fisheries Research Institute held a launching ceremony today at 1 pm for a new 1,500-tonne fishing experimental ship at PT United Sindo Perkasa Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. The director of the Fisheries Research Institute, Ching-Yi Chang, led his colleagues to attend the ceremony via video conference and expressed his blessings for the new ship, while thanking the guests and partners for their efforts in launching the new ship.
According to the Fisheries Research Institute, the 1,500-tonne fishing research ship was built as part of the Institute's medium- to long-term plan, titled Building Sustainable Fisheries Resources and Upgrading the Basic Energy for Research and Development in Response to Climate Change. Construction began on August 31, 2022, and the keel was laid on November 25 of the same year. The launching ceremony was held after a year of construction. In the future, the new ship will enter the shipyard for subsequent outfitting operations, and various equipment tests and sea trials will be carried out on board. Director Ching-Yi Chang hopes that the subsequent projects and tests will proceed smoothly, that the sea trials will be completed, and that construction and delivery of the new ship will be completed in the second half of 2024.
The Fisheries Research Institute stated that after construction of the ship is completed, it will be deployed in the marine fisheries group of the Institute, with the official dock on Heping Island in Keelung used as the operating base. It will take over the mission of the 30-year-old Water Test Ship No.1 and continue to conduct long-term monitoring of the marine fishery environment using ecological environment monitoring stations planned for the surrounding waters and offshore wind farm areas of Taiwan. It will also cooperate with domestic and foreign marine research institutions to carry out research projects such as ecological research on migratory fish resources, ecological research on benthic fish resources, and investigations of radioactive substances found in seawater and floating debris.
The Fisheries Research Institute further explained that the new fishing research ship is equipped with modern navigation and engine equipment, has a range of up to 7,200 miles, and will be able to sail to distant waters for operations. The ship is also equipped with various novel scientific instruments and equipment and has the ability to conduct deep-water exploration and investigation operations. In the future, researchers will be able to accurately detect the location of fish populations in different water layers, obtain more hydrological and environmental data related to ocean water quality, the marine environment, and seabed topography, effectively enhance the research capacity of the Fisheries Research Institute in marine resources and fisheries science, and help clarify the impact of climate change on fisheries resources and find ways to respond, thus ensuring the sustainable use of fisheries resources.
Photo 1. The launch document of the Fisheries Research Institute's new 1,500-tonne research ship
Photo 2. Group photo of the launch ceremony of the 1,500-tonne research ship of the Fisheries Research Institute
Photo 3. Photo of the Fisheries Research Institute's 1,500-tonne research ship before launch
Photo 4. Launch of the 1,500-tonne research ship of the Fisheries Research Institute