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Sailors have long faced the dilemma of lacking fresh vegetables during long voyages. Today, however, Zhejiang Ocean-Going Vessels have taken the lead in introducing an aeroponic planting system. After withstanding the challenges of the unique marine environment, the first batch of vegetables has achieved a bumper harvest—injecting fresh vitality into the days spent sailing across the oceans and allowing sailors to enjoy freshly picked and cooked vegetables even during voyages far from land.
This innovative planting system is a perfect integration of technology and ocean-going life. Its core adopts aeroponic technology, which atomizes nutrient solution and sprays it directly onto plant roots, enabling roots to absorb nutrients efficiently in an oxygen-rich environment, with a growth rate that is over 30% faster than traditional planting methods. It also incorporates the advantages of NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponics: a thin film of nutrient solution is formed in shallow planting troughs to continuously deliver water and nutrients to crops. The combination of these two technologies not only solves the problem of limited space in the ocean-going environment but also realizes the recycling of water resources.
The intelligent control cabinet integrates multi-dimensional sensors for temperature, humidity, light, CO₂concentration, as well as the EC value and pH value of the nutrient solution. Sailors do not need complex operations; they can control all growing environments with a single click via the touchscreen: when light is insufficient, full-spectrum LED supplementary grow lights turn on automatically; if the nutrient solution concentration deviates from the standard value, the system adjusts and replenishes it in real time; when temperature or humidity fluctuates, the ventilation and constant-temperature modules respond immediately. This closed-loop control system breaks free from the constraints of variable environments during ocean voyages, creating a stable and controllable environment for vegetable growth—ensuring crops thrive even during voyages with rough waves and turbulence.
The first harvested vegetables are diverse in variety and fresh and tender. From sowing to harvesting, the entire process is soil-free and pesticide-free. Relying on sterile nutrient solution and an ultraviolet sterilization system, each vegetable is safe, healthy, and sweet in taste. After sailors pick them with their own hands, the vegetables are quickly served on the dining table—whether stir-fried as fresh greens or served as cold lettuce. Their fresh flavor dispels the monotony of voyages and provides sailors with sufficient vitamins and dietary fiber for their high-intensity maritime work.
This is not only a success in planting but also an innovation in the quality of ocean-going life. In the future, this intelligent system will continue to be optimized, with plans to introduce fruit and vegetable crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers—making the dining tables of ocean-going voyages even more abundant
