Technology provided by Agwa apparently produces regular supply of salad during long sea voyages
Crew on board the oil tanker Effie Maersk can now enjoy freshly harvested vegetables, despite being far from dry land, thanks to a new project set up by Synergy Marine Group, which manages the vessel.
It recently trialled new autonomous technology developed by Agwa to grow products like lettuce on board.
Using AI, cameras and sensors, a total of three units regulate the plants’ light, water, soil, humidity, and temperature.
The plants yield around four bowls of fresh salad a week, Synergy revealed, adding that the project had improved the wellbeing of its crew.
Chairman Rajesh Unni commented: “As a fellow seafarer, this initiative is close to my heart. High-speed internet access and shorter tours of duty are vital for seafarer contentment, but I’ve also seen how important fresh, nutritious food is to morale and wellbeing.”
He added: “Among today’s increasingly health-conscious mariners there is a noticeable shift toward healthier, plant-forward eating habits, and Agwa’s technology allows us to serve fresher, healthier food on our managed vessels, directly enhancing crew welfare.”
