MV Xue Long 2

MV Xue Long 2 (simplified Chinese: 雪龙2; traditional Chinese: 雪龍2; pinyin: Xuě Lóng 2; lit.: 'Snow Dragon 2') is a Chinese icebreaking research vessel that entered service in 2019. She follows the naming of MV Xue Long, China's first polar research vessel.[4]

History
China
Name: Xue Long 2 (simplified Chinese: 雪龙2; traditional Chinese: 雪龍2; pinyin: Xuě Lóng 2)
Owner: Polar Research Institute of China
Port of registry: Shanghai, China
Builder: Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai, China
Yard number: H2650
Launched: 10 September 2018[1]
Completed: 11 July 2019[2]
Identification: IMO number: 9829241
Status: In service
General characteristics [3]
Type: Research vessel
Displacement: 14,300 tons
Length: 122.5 m (402 ft)
Beam: 22.3 m (73 ft)
Draught:
  • 7.9 m (26 ft) (design)
  • 8.3 m (27 ft) (maximum)
Depth: 11.8 m (39 ft)
Ice class: Polar Class 3
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (1 engine)
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) (2 engines)
  • 2–3 knots (3.7–5.6 km/h; 2.3–3.5 mph) (icebreaking)
Capacity: 90 crew and scientists
Aviation facilities: Helideck and hangar

History

The 5 million euro[5] design contract for China's first domestically-built polar research vessel was signed in 2012 with the Finnish engineering company Aker Arctic, though construction did not begin until December 2016.[6][4] She is being built at Jiangnan Shipyard[4] and entered service on 11 July 2019.[2]

Xue Long 2 now in service both as a supply vessel for China's research facilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and as a research vessel, with capabilities for geological and biological experimentation and surveying.[7]

Design

Xue Long 2 measures 122.5 metres (402 ft) long, with a beam of 22.3 metres (73 ft) and a draft of 8.3 metres (27 ft) at full load.[7] She has a displacement of 14,300 tonnes.[7] She has a diesel-electric propulsion system, with two 16-cylinder and two 12-cylinder engines, both Wärtsilä 32-series designs, powering two 7.5 MW Azipod propulsion units that give her a speed of up to 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) when breaking ice.[7] Her ice class is Polar Class 3 and she is able to break ice up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) thick while traveling either ahead or astern.[7]

gollark: Also, you need ridiculous cooling as things stand.
gollark: It only accelerates SOME tasks.
gollark: You need multiple kinds.
gollark: Again, archival storage.
gollark: Archival storage sure.

References
  1. China Launches Icebreaker Xuelong 2. The Maritime Executive, 10 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. "Icebreaker Xuelong 2 joins service on China national maritime day". Global Times. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  3. China builds first polar research ship. The Motorship, 17 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  4. "First Chinese-built polar icebreaker gets name". Xinhua. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. China awards Aker Arctic contract for icebreaker design. MarineLog, 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  6. "New icebreaker planned by 2016: officials". China Daily. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. "China builds first polar research ship". The Motorship. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.