Building Floating Aquaculture Farms with Expanded Polystyrene in Singapore

Abstract

Domestic fish production is vital for Singapore to diversify its food sources. In 2018, local aquaculture farms produced up to 9% of the fish stock consumed in the country. Most of these farms operate along the Straits of Johor on floating wooden structures (also known as kelong). These structures require constant repair and maintenance, which could be costly and disruptive for farm owners. At present, there are no formal building regulations and guidelines available on these structures in Singapore. This paper proposes an engineered design of an offshore aquaculture farm that is compliant with building and maritime standards. The floating base of this new farm is constructed using expanded polystyrene and concrete based on the design concepts developed by FlexBase. Fish will be reared in a closed containment system, which will allow farm owners to safeguard their livestock against pollution and unfavourable environmental conditions. The new farm, designed to have a working life of 50 years, will require minimal maintenance over its service period.