Dongwon Industries has launched its state-of-the-art deep-sea fishing vessel, 'Danuriho,' equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to detect tuna schools in the South Pacific. The vessel features advanced equipment to enhance operational efficiency and a remote management system that allows real-time monitoring of the ship's status from land, accelerating the digital transformation of deep-sea fishing.
On October 29, Dongwon Industries held a launch ceremony for the new purse seiner 'Danuriho' at Dadaehang in Busan. The event was attended by Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo, Dongwon Group Chairman Kim Nam-jung, Dongwon Industries CEO Park Sang-jin, and over 200 crew members and their families.
'Danuriho' is a 2,000-ton purse seiner built with an investment of over 50 billion won. It will operate in the South Pacific for approximately one year with a crew of about 30, including Captain Kim Min-seong.
The vessel's key competitive advantage lies in its AI-based fish detection technology. It is equipped with two drones capable of flying at speeds up to 120 km/h, allowing for broader area searches than traditional methods.
The aerial footage captured by the drones is transmitted to the onboard control room, where AI analyzes it in real-time. Additionally, the vessel employs 3D sonar and radar to track the location and movement of underwater fish schools, reducing the time and effort needed to locate tuna.
New technologies have also been integrated into the vessel's navigation and equipment management. 'Danuriho' is the first deep-sea fishing vessel to implement a remote monitoring system, enabling real-time checks on the status of key facilities such as the engine room and integrated control room from land. This capability is expected to enhance safety management by allowing for remote inspections of onboard equipment.
Furthermore, the vessel is equipped with the latest rapid freezing technology to secure not only tuna for canning but also high-value 'super tuna' for sashimi. Considering the nearly year-long maritime life, the crew's living conditions have been improved by expanding cabin heights and bed sizes.
Over the past decade, Dongwon Industries has invested approximately 300 billion won in modernizing its fleet. With 'Danuriho' and another 2,000-ton purse seiner currently under construction, the company now operates a total of eight modern purse seiners.
Park Sang-jin, CEO of Dongwon Industries, stated, "'Danuriho' is a cutting-edge purse seiner that incorporates the latest fishing technologies, and we expect it to achieve excellent results in the South Pacific. We aim to enhance competitiveness by integrating advanced technology into traditional deep-sea fishing while also leading efforts to protect the rights of our crew as the largest seafood company in the country."
Meanwhile, 'Danuriho' is the first purse seiner built using the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' 'Deep-Sea Fishing Vessel Safety Fund.' This fund was established in 2019 as a policy initiative to replace aging deep-sea fishing vessels with safe, modern ships through collaboration among the government, financial institutions, and fishing companies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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