Studies on the Conversion of a River Cargo Barge into a Floating Fish Farm

Abstract

This paper presents results of the research and developing of a modular floating aquaculture platform based on inland river cargo barge design to be exploited under biosecurity and sustainability conditions in the Lower Danube region, aligned with the current sustainable development strategies of the blue economy outlined by the European Union. The new design combines the capabilities of growing fish in modular tanks with the growing vegetables in recirculating systems in the greenhouse superstructure of the floating platform. The first step of this interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research is a full naval architecture study, meaning both aerodynamically and strength calculation, as a starting point for the design and evaluation of the growing fish and cultivating vegetables systems.