China’s first multi-functional scientific research and archaeological vessel for deep-sea exploration and cultural relic excavation has officially docked in Nansha District of Guangzhou City, in south China’s Guangdong Province. The arrival of this state-of-the-art vessel on Saturday marks a significant milestone in the nation’s deep-sea exploration capabilities.
Independently designed, developed, and built by China, the vessel measures 104 meters in length and boasts a displacement of approximately 10,000 tonnes. It is equipped to conduct deep-sea scientific investigations and cultural relic excavations, in addition to scientific research in polar sea areas during the summer months, thanks to its bidirectional ice-breaking capabilities.
Capable of accommodating up to 80 personnel, the ship can travel at a maximum speed of 16 knots (approximately 30 kilometers per hour) and has a range of 15,000 nautical miles. Construction of the vessel commenced in June 2023, representing an investment of about 800 million yuan (approximately $112.7 million).
Significant breakthroughs have been achieved in the application of key technologies, including the overall design, intelligent control systems, low-temperature precise compensation, and the integrated design of ice zone payloads and heavy payload structures. According to He Guangwei, deputy chief engineer at Guangzhou Shipyard International Company of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, efforts have been made to replace imported components with domestically produced ones, enhancing the development of scientific research equipment and expanding its functions, particularly in polar regions.
“The vessel symbolizes significant progress in China’s autonomous control over deep-sea scientific research equipment and ship design for operations in polar regions,” said He.
Before its scheduled delivery at the beginning of 2025, the ship will undergo equipment and system debugging, outfitting of living areas, and sea trials. Once operational, it is expected to become an open and shared maritime platform for multi-system integration, multidisciplinary collaboration, and innovation in China.
The vessel will enhance China’s manned deep-sea diving capabilities across all sea areas and improve deep-sea archaeological operations, bolstering the nation’s position in maritime exploration and research.
Reference(s):
Deep-sea scientific research and archaeological ship docks in S China
cgtn.com
