Fully electrical: China to build its largest research ship

Aerial photo shows China's polar icebreakers Xuelong 2 (R) and Xuelong at an area close to China's Zhongshan Station on November 21, 2019. /Xinhua

China's largest comprehensive maritime scientific research ship will soon be built in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, further improving the country's marine exploration capability in regions including the South China Sea, according to local authorities.

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) just signed a contract on Saturday with the Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Unmanned System upon construction of this new vessel.

The new ship will be 117.2 meters long, 21 meters wide and 5.4 meters of draft, with an optimal performance as well as a record displacement of more than 10,100 tons. It will also enjoy a maximum carrying capacity of more than 600 tons.

Furthermore, the ship will meet requirements of a strengthened B-level ice zone, use a full electric drive, a DP2 dynamic positioning system, and be equipped with a 360 degree full-view cab. Featuringscientific exploration equipment and supporting operation equipment such as multi-beam, single-beam, thermohaline and depth sounder, it also has extra space and interfaces prepared for future extensions.

In 2020, CSSC participated in the development of China's deep-sea manned submersible "Fendouzhe," which has succeeded in descending 10,909 meters in the Mariana Trench on November10, hitting a new Chinese record for deep-sea exploration by completing 6 hours worth of seabed operations and cruising tasks.