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Delivering a Deep Experience
The main viewing tank at the Sea Shell Aquarium.
Tim Eldridge details Advanced Aquarium Technologies’ achievements at Vietnam’s new Sea Shell Aquarium
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Sunshine Coast-based Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) recently completed its work at the Sea Shell Aquarium in Phú Quoc, Vietnam, Asia’s newest aquarium and one of the world’s most spectacular aquarium experiences.
The Australian-owned specialist in public aquarium design, construction and operation co-designed the iconic 27,500 metre² aquarium, manufacturing over 520 tonnes of PLEXIGLAS® panels, tunnels, domes, cylinders, and other innovative structures and then installing them into the unique, turtle-shaped building, providing astounding views of the animals.
A nine metre-tall and 790mm thick PLEXIGLAS® window weighing 220 tonnes, 58 metres of interconnected underwater viewing tunnels and two colossal underwater viewing rooms are just some of the thrilling experiences created for visitors by AAT.
The Sea Shell Aquarium is owned by Vinpearl, Vietnam’s largest international five-star hotel, resort, spa, conference centre, F&B service, golf course, and amusement park chain owner.
The Aquarium is part of Vinwonders Phu Quoc, the largest theme park in Vietnam covering six subdivisions including Medieval Europe, Magical World, Secret Village, Ocean Palace, Cyclone World, and Adventure World, and 12 stories inspired by human civilisation.
Deeper Tanks, Taller Windows At 12 metres-deep, the aquarium’s colossal 16.2 million-litre main tank commands one of the tallest wide-format acrylic viewing panels ever built. At 26 metres wide and 9 metres tall, the World of Giants ‘mega-window’ is larger than a grand slam singles tennis court.
A window this size cannot be transported by road and sea-freight in one piece. Instead, AAT made nine 24.6 tonne sections - each 9 metres tall by 3 metres wide - at the company’s wholly-owned PLEXIGLAS® manufacturing plant using certified German production methods. Each section was transported over 2,000 kilometres from the factory in China to the construction site on Phú Quoc Island, South West Vietnam, where they were bonded ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ to form the largest PLEXIGLAS® window ever made.
Commenting on the project, AAT Chief Executive, John Langmead (pictured above) stated “the Sea Shell’s main tank has tremendous depth and volume, more than six Olympic swimming pools. Our PLEXIGLAS® window is over threequarters of a metre thick to withstand the water pressure. As far as we know, this thickness is unprecedented”.
The World of Giants tank is adjacent to a 3.8 million litre, seven metre-deep World of Sharks tank, and running along the bottom of the two, connecting them, is 58-metres of underwater tunnels.
Sometimes called shark tunnels, these transparent walkways
AAT Chief Executive, John Langmead
The World of Fishes is one of several themed zones within the Sea Shell Aquarium (above) and the attraction off ers unique F&B experiences (below).
are a much-loved feature of modern aquariums. What makes this tunnel different - aside from its length and the volume of water overhead - is that it passes through two dramatic underwater viewing rooms featuring PLEXIGLAS® walls and transparent ceilings made and installed by AAT.
Each seven-metre-wide domed ceiling comprises three sections of PLEXIGLAS® bonded together and then shaped over a mould in a purpose-built, 100 metre² oven. AAT is a world leader at thermoforming giant, flat acrylic panels into prodigious structures for zoos and aquariums.
AAT invested over US $1 million in additional capital expenditure at its 18,000 metre² factory to deliver the Sea Shell. Luciano Antonini, AAT Factory General Manager, is proud of his team’s accomplishments, noting “our expanded workforce ran the factory 24x7 for 18 months straight. We improved our energy resilience by converting our ovens to steam-heating, completed over 100 thermoforming works and over 115 panelbonds.”
Viewed from every angle 22 cylindrical PLEXIGLAS® tanks and barriers - two of which are nearly 20 metres in diameter - provide visitors with intimate, 360-degree views of a wide range of species from beautiful jellyfish to exotic fish and ever-popular penguins.
The World of Jellyfish hosts two beautiful transparent spheres serving as both animal exhibits and as artistic waterfall features. 1.54 metres in diameter, the spheres are made from 40 mm thick PLEXIGLAS® and weigh over 200 kgs each, empty.
Martin van Dijk, AAT Engineering Manager - Acrylics, added “PLEXIGLAS® is brilliantly clear, able to withstand tremendous pressure and versatile to work with. We operate at the intersection of construction and art, creating structures that are both functional and aesthetic.
“That said, our primary goal is for visitors to fall in love with the marine world behind our windows.”
Interactive ‘Edu-tainment’ Experiences The design of the Sea Sell Aquarium was an international team effort involving AAT, its long-standing Australia-based associate James Hampton Design Partners (JHDP) and Los Angeles-based Legacy Entertainment, a specialist in theme parks and entertainment attractions.
As well as shaping the visitor-journey layout and aquarium facilities, AAT co-designed some 60 marine-life exhibits arranged on a journey through themed zones including the World of Jellyfish, a World of Fishes, a World of Penguins, a World of Sharks, a World of Giants, touch-tanks and a coral reef.
Collectively these marine-life exhibits rely on over 22 million litres of water.
As James Hampton, JHDP Director, explains “the edutainment experience for visitors has been enhanced with next-level experiences - such as a miniature underwater viewing tunnel for kids - making it one of the largest interactive public aquariums in the world.”
Unique dining experience Aquarium visitors can eat at a restaurant in front of a 5.2 metretall and 20.7 metre-wide window into the 3.8 million-litre World of Sharks tank, taking those all-important Instagram moments to an entirely new level. Unique dining experiences play an ever more critical role in helping aquarium innovate their service offerings to generate additional revenue streams
Global Logistics during a Pandemic While AAT’s global logistics capabilities are second to none, the Sea Shell Aquarium was constructed during the COVID pandemic, which created formidable challenges. While somewhat isolated working on a small island, work was still
A PLEXIGLAS® walled giant underwater viewing room at the Sea Shell Aquarium
interrupted several times by COVID-related shutdown periods. AAT’s onsite crew included aquarium construction experts from Australia, China, India, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Singapore plus workers hired in Vietnam.
Langmead concludes “I am deeply grateful to our staff for their commitment to delivering this project under unimaginably difficult circumstances, and especially to those employees who endured multiple 14-day and in some cases 21-day quarantine periods for international travel.”
PLEXIGLAS® PLEXIGLAS® is a registered trademark of Röhm GmbH of Darmstadt in Germany, and one of the world’s highest quality acrylic materials. AAT manufactures the world’s largest cast
The attraction's unique architecture (above) and a scuba diver explores (below).
PLEXIGLAS® blocks under license from Röhm for use in the construction of spectacular public aquariums. Tim Eldridge is Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing for Advanced Aquarium Technologies.
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