REGIONAL> Development
China's first enteromorpha salvaging vessel makes debut
By Yuan Yue (China Daily Shandong Bureau)
Updated: 2009-07-28 15:55

Rushan scientists have tested China's first enteromorpha (a green algae) salvaging vessel in the waters near Rushankou in the city of Rushan, Shandong province on July 27.

The vessel, which took almost a year to design and develop, is the result of the joint efforts of several scientific research institutions including the China Aquatic Science Research Institute.

With a capacity of 35 cubic meters and a salvaging speed of 50 cubic meters an hour, it is suitable for the offshore salvage of litter and algae like enteromorpha, which invades the coastal region of the Yellow Sea.

"It would improve our efficiency, as well as the level of mechanization on a large scale," said Wan Rong, a professor from the Chinese Marine University, who was monitoring the operation of the vessel on location.

Last year, the proliferation of enteromorpha in the western Yellow Sea not only took a significant toll on offshore fishing in Jiaodong Peninsula, but also caused a bottleneck in salvaging work.

The development of the vessel has been supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shandong provincial department of technology.