In order to enhance the research capacity of fishery resources in the waters surrounding Taiwan in response to climate change, in 2019, the Executive Yuan approved the Fisheries Research Institute to construct three fishery research vessels equipped with novel scientific research equipment to replace the existing two research vessels, namely Fishery Researcher 1 and Hai'an, which have expired their service life. It aims to enhance the survey capacity of migratory fish resources in eastern Taiwan. Despite adverse factors, such as the international COVID-19 pandemic, the booming shipbuilding market, and soaring steel prices, the steel cutting ceremony of the research vessels was held on April 7 at PT United Sindo Perkasa Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, which is owned by Vallianz Holdings Limited. Chun-Ru Chen, the director of the Fisheries Research Institute, has led relevant executives and colleagues to attend the ceremony via video.
Awareocean Technology, which is the project management and supervisory manufacturer commissioned by the Fisheries Research Institute, arrived at the shipyard in Batam via Jakarta in early April to assist in preparations for the construction of the vessels. At the steel cutting ceremony, Mr. Chen and the shipyard representative delivered speeches, and the shipowner representative (supervisory engineer), the shipyard representative, and two classification societies, namely the CR Classification Society and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), signed the construction documents. Then, the shipyard representative and the shipowner representative began the steel cutting ceremony, thus, formally initiating the construction.
According to the Fisheries Research Institute, the comprehensive influence of climate change may change basic marine productivity, the distribution and habitat depth of marine fish, the marine ecosystem, and the intensity of coastal upwelling, thus, in order to monitor the marine environment and fishery resources, field detection by fishery research vessels is required to understand the impact of climate change on marine fishery resources in the waters surrounding Taiwan, and then, to determine the countermeasures to cope with climate change issues. Since the construction of Linghai Maru in 1910, the Institute has successively constructed several fishery research vessels. The two research vessels under construction since April 7 are the 19th and 20th research vessels in the past 100 years, which will consolidate the foundation laid by predecessors, enhance the capacity of basic research and development, and make more contributions to the country and the people.
According to the Fisheries Research Institute, the two 100-ton fishery research vessels are expected to be delivered by the end of 2023. Among them, the 100-ton research vessel for the Penghu Center will be equipped with a number of novel detection equipment, which will strengthen research on shallow reefs, estuaries, and shoals around Penghu. The 100-ton research vessel for the Eastern Marine Biology Research Center will also have built-in fish wells and harpoon platforms to enhance the survey of migratory fish resources. Another 1,500-ton research vessel with advanced scientific instruments and international navigation capability will start construction in September 2022 and is expected to be delivered in mid-2024. At that time, the three research vessels will perform their respective roles according to their characteristics, in order to re-innovate the development of basic research on fisheries sustainability in response to climate change in Taiwan.
Photo 1. A Video Conference with the Fisheries Research Institute at the Steel Cutting Ceremony
Photo 2. Shipowner Representative, Shipyard Representative, and Two Classification Societies (CR Classification Society and American Bureau of Shipping) Signing the Construction Documents
Photo 3. Shipyard Representative and Shipowner Representative (Supervisory Engineer) Pressing the Buttoning to Start the Steel Cutting Ceremony
Photo 4. Formal Steel Cutting for Research Vessels at the Cutting Table