The refrigerated cargo ship Dong Fang 101 is launched in Daishan county, Zhoushan. [Photo/Tide News]

The 10,500-deadweight-ton refrigerated cargo ship Dong Fang 101 was launched in Daishan county, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, on Dec 18, significantly boosting the cold chain transport capabilities of the Zhoushan National Pelagic Fishery Base.

The refrigerated cargo ship is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025. It will primarily serve the transportation of fish from distant-water fishing fleets, supply distribution, and crew changes, facilitating high-quality maritime cold chain transport across the North Pacific, Southeast Pacific, Southwest Atlantic, and Indian Ocean.

The Dong Fang 101 boasts a range of 20,000 nautical miles, a refrigerated hold capacity of 13,000 cubic meters and a loading capacity of 10,500 metric tons.

The ship employs advanced refrigeration technology to ensure precise temperature control and safety during transport, and its power system incorporates the latest energy-saving technologies, according to a representative of Zhoushan Ocean Fishery Group Corp.

As of June 2024, the city's distant-water fishing fleet had grown to 688 vessels, an increase of 274 since 2016.

In the first three quarters of this year, the Zhoushan National Pelagic Fishery Base processed aquatic products worth 6.52 billion yuan ($893.23 million), a year-on-year increase of 15.38 percent. Trade transactions reached 14.83 billion yuan, up 31.26 percent, with tuna exports surging by 285 percent.