The Conson No 1, said to be the world's first 100,000-metric-ton smart fish farming ship, entered service on May 20 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Conson No 1 — said to be the world's first 100,000-metric-ton fish farming "smart" ship was delivered and went to work in Qingdao, Shandong province, on May 20.

The vessel allows China's marine aquaculture to expand from areas near shore to the deep sea.

The Conson No 1, said to be the world's first 100,000-metric-ton smart fish farming ship, entered service on May 20 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Business executives and experts said the vessel represents major progress in equipment in China and boosts the country's efforts to promote high-quality aquaculture.

The vessel cost 450 million yuan ($67.27 million). It is 249.9 meters long and has a water body displacement of 130,000 tons, according to Qingdao Conson Development (Group) Co, the main investor.

The Conson No 1, said to be the world's first 100,000-metric-ton smart fish farming ship, entered service on May 20 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The colossal ship is designed to be fitted with 15 aquaculture tanks of about 90,000 cubic meters for high-end commercial fish, such as large yellow croakers, the company said.

Each year it is expected to yield 3,700 tons of high-quality fish. The first batch of large yellow croakers is expected to be harvested in autumn this year, the company added.

The deck of Conson No 1 [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fishery Machinery and Instrument Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences is the leading designer of the Conson No 1.

Many technological breakthroughs were made during the design and building process, including solutions to reduce noise and prevent disease.

The deck of Conson No 1 [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chen Zhixin, chief scientist at the institute, said the ship utilizes more than 30 items of domestically developed intellectual property and will demonstrate highly efficient and environmentally friendly aquaculture.

Wang Jianhui, chairman of Qingdao Conson, said the company is cooperating with partners to prepare the construction of the second and third of the 100,000-ton ships. Feasibility studies are in the pipeline to build a 300,000-ton ship.

A crew member checks operations on the Conson No 1 using a smart system. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the next five to 10 years, Qingdao Conson will invest in the construction of 50 smart farming ships.