Engineer Nguyen Minh Thong, CEO of ENSO DANA Company, presents the ENSO toxic gas purification machine project at the "Innovative Startup in High-Tech Agriculture " competition in 2025. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Toxic gas prevention tools
For many years, the problem of fishermen being poisoned by gas while cleaning the holds of seafood has become a haunting issue on fishing vessels.
Most fishing vessels nowadays have fish storage holds that use ice or cold seawater, leading to biodegradation and oxygen deficiency, producing many toxic gases such as H2S and NH3, especially when the vessel is anchored for a long time or the fish spoils.
Each year, localities record numerous cases of fishermen being poisoned by gas in the holds of their ships, resulting in death or serious injury.
However, there is currently no dedicated, compact, and low-cost air filtration solution specifically for fishing vessels. Based on this reality, engineer Nguyen Minh Thong and the project team at ENSO DANA Co., Ltd. have developed the "ENSO Toxic Gas Filter" as an effective preventative tool, contributing to protecting fishermen's health, minimizing the risk of gas poisoning, and simultaneously improving occupational safety and the efficiency of fisheries exploitation.
Designed specifically for fishing vessel holds and cold storage, the device operates based on a combination of biocatalytic filtration technology and absorbent materials derived from ENSO deodorizing granules.
The multi-stage filter system includes a primary dust filter, ENSO deodorizing granules to remove H2S and NH3, and a UV sterilization lamp.
Through testing in a simulated environment, the system demonstrated the ability to reduce toxic gas concentrations by up to 95%, while maintaining stability during operation under the characteristic vibration, humidity, and salinity conditions of fishing vessels.
The compact size of the toxic gas filter makes it suitable for the confined spaces and humid, salty environments of fishing vessels. Thanks to its low energy consumption and ease of maintenance, the solution is considered to have wide-ranging application potential for fishing fleets nationwide.
Technological solutions for the safety of fishermen.
At the final round of the "Innovative Startup in High-Tech Agriculture" competition in 2025, the project received special attention from the judging panel due to its high practicality, commercial viability, and positive impact on social welfare.
The ENSO air purifier has a compact design. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)
Equipping fishing vessels with air purifiers in the hold helps fishermen protect their health, avoid suffocation accidents, reduce corrosion and odors in the hold, and increase equipment lifespan, ensuring safety during vessel operation.
Engineer Nguyen Minh Thong, representing the project team for "ENSO Toxic Gas Filter - Reducing Fatalities from Gas Poisoning in Fishing Vessels' Holds," shared: "Our goal is not just to create a technological product, but to create a life-saving solution. Each effectively functioning air filter means one more fisherman's life is protected, and one more family is safe."
ENSO DANA is known as a familiar startup in Da Nang 's startup ecosystem, having achieved success with its "ENSO Deodorizing Bags" and "ENSO Odor Filters" products, which are currently being used at Da Nang International Airport.
Winning the Encouragement Award at the "Innovative Startup Competition in High-Tech Agriculture" in 2025 (organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology) recognized ENSO's efforts and affirmed the potential of Vietnamese-branded environmental technology solutions.
ENSO continues to demonstrate that innovation can absolutely begin with the smallest things, but have a significant impact on the community and the environment, contributing to reducing occupational risks and developing a sustainable fisheries industry.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/du-an-vi-suc-khoe-ngu-dan-3312265.html
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