China's first ultra-low temperature refrigerated transportation and processing ship, Ocean Star, was officially put into operation in the West Coast New Area (WCNA) in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province on Jan 19.
The ship, which was constructed by Shandong Marine Group, has a total investment valued at 215 million yuan ($34 million).
The length of the ship stretches 117.5 meters and the gross tonnage reaches 5,350 tons, and the daily processing capacity for bluefin tuna is about 55 tons.
With the help of the R410A refrigeration system, it only takes 18 hours to freeze from room temperature to minus 55 degrees Celsius without releasing ozone-depleting substances, making it the most advanced and environmentally-friendly ship in the world.
According to preliminary news, the ship has landed an annual offshore processing contract of 5,000 tons of bluefin tuna, accounting for one-eighth of the total processing volume of bluefin tuna in the world.
The recent operation of the ship is the result of the WCNA's efforts to accelerate the development of international ultra-low temperature refrigerated transportation, processing, and the cold chain industry.
China's first ultra-low temperature refrigerated transportation and processing ship - Ocean Star [Photo/Dazhong News.com]