Ping Tai Rong Leng 1, an ultra-low-temperature tuna transport ship made by Pingtairong Ocean Fishery Group in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province [Photo/WeChat account: ptrchina]
Two ultra-low-temperature tuna transport ships made in Zhoushan successfully registered with the European Union, according to a recent announcement by the health and food safety administration of the European Commission.
"The ships are the first of their kind in China to register with the EU. China can now independently transport tuna being exported to the EU," said Chen Bin, vice chairman of the pelagic fishery association of Zhoushan.
Chen added that the registration marks a milestone in the development of a national pelagic fishery base in Zhoushan and will help enhance the international competitiveness of China's tuna products.
The EU has long maintained strict requirements for the import of pelagic fish products, demanding fishing vessels and fish transport ships from non-EU countries register before entering its market.
The two ships are from Pingtairong Ocean Fishery Group, a local fishery company in Zhoushan. According to a company representative, previously they had to lease a Japanese ship to export tuna to the EU, which led to many problems such as high costs and production delays.
With the two ships, the company is expected to save nearly 10 million yuan ($1.44 million) in costs per year, said the representative.
Statistics from Zhoushan Customs show that 31 pelagic fishing vessels in Zhoushan registered with the EU in the first half of the year, nearly twice as many as last year.
The number of the city's total fishing vessels registered with the EU has reached 63 as of June, accounting for 13.5 percent of the nation's total and ranking first in Zhejiang province in the number of such vessels. The vessels range from tuna fishing boats and transport ships to squid fishing boats and transport ships.
Another 46 pelagic fishing boats in the city are currently being transformed or built according to EU standards.
