Dongwon Industries launches state-of-the-art purse seiner 'Danuri' with AI fish detection

Dongwon Industries held a departure ceremony Thursday at Dadae Port in Busan for its state-of-the-art purse seiner, the Danuri.

The event was attended by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo, Dongwon Group Chairman Kim Nam-jung, Dongwon Industries CEO Park Sang-jin, Busan Port Authority Vice President Gan Ju-tae, and Korea Overseas Fisheries Association Chairman Moon Hae-nam. About 200 people, including crew members and their families, gathered to wish the vessel safe operations and a full catch.

The Danuri is a 2,000-ton purse seiner built at a cost of more than 50 billion won ($37.8 million). Advanced technology is applied across the entire process, from fish detection to catch storage. About 30 crew members, including Captain Kim Min-seong, are aboard. The vessel will spend roughly one year fishing for tuna in the South Pacific.

Two dedicated drones handle fish detection, automatically taking off and landing from the vessel while under way and flying at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. AI in the control room analyzes footage captured by the drones in real time. Three-dimensional sonar and radar systems further improve fishing efficiency.

The Danuri is the first deep-sea fishing vessel equipped with a remote monitoring system, allowing the status of key facilities — including the engine room and the integrated bridge — to be checked from shore in real time. Newly installed rapid-freezing equipment enables the vessel to catch not only canned-grade tuna but also sashimi-grade tuna marketed as "Super Tuna." Cabin ceiling heights and bunk dimensions have also been expanded compared with previous vessels.

The Danuri is also the first purse seiner built under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' "Offshore Fishing Vessel Safety Fund," introduced in 2019 to improve the safety and welfare of deep-sea fishery workers. Dongwon Industries has spent about 300 billion won modernizing its fleet over the past decade or so. Including the Danuri and one 2,000-ton purse seiner currently under construction, the company now operates eight of its latest-model purse seiners.

"We will raise our competitiveness by connecting advanced technology to the traditional industry of deep-sea fishing, while also taking the lead in protecting the rights of our crew members as the country's largest fisheries company," Dongwon Industries CEO Park said.