Engineers at the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) have completed the design research for a 11,023 tons (10,000-tonne) deep-sea engineering survey ship. It will also feature a 16,404-foot (5,000 m) deepwater drilling kit, marking an important milestone on its journey toward construction.
Deep-sea research vessels are specially designed floating laboratories that carry out multiple oceanographic activities from a single platform. Several countries operate these vessels to explore local marine environments, track environmental change, and study its impact on human civilization.
China operates one of the largest marine and deep-sea research fleets, surpassing the US, the UK, European countries, and island nations such as Australia and Japan. A team of engineers, academics, and specialist researchers at CCCC spent the last two years completing the technical research that culminated in the final design of the vessel.
Features of the vessel
According to the design blueprint, the vessel will feature a Beidou time and space reference system for navigation and positioning. This will be a highly precise system necessary for offshore surveying and mapping.
In addition to these capabilities, the vessel will also feature in-situ testing and ocean observation onboard. The centerpiece of its capabilities is the 16,404 feet (5,000 m)deepwater drilling kit. The large-bore top drive supports multiple coring methods with a 150-tonne load rating.
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To test the seabed, the blueprint features an integrated downhole cone penetration system and uses a bottom-hold sampling method that can work at depths of nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and a penetration force of 100kN.
The design uses advanced geophysical survey approaches, including a mother ship plus crewed and uncrewed boats, and features some of the most advanced hydrological and meteorological survey equipment.
The vessel design boasts an integrated system that not only runs operations from the deck but also provides a platform for data fusion and tiered warnings.
39 patent applications
Although it is still a blueprint, it has already produced 31 technical plans, 22 papers, 14 software copyrights, and 39 invention patent applications. The team also developed two pieces of hardware and tested them as prototypes.
The work was assessed after the technical research was completed and found to be advanced at international levels overall, while some of the work was marked as world-leading, alocal media reportsaid.
The team explored ideas on how the vessel should be designed, built, and operated. While the design incorporates functions for offshore engineering, resource exploration, and scientific research onto one platform, the cost of such a construction, along with its timeline, has not been revealed.
Given China’s strength in maritime technologies, it is only a matter of when they build thisresearch vessel, rather than if they ever build it.
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Ameya PalejaAmeya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.
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Engineers at the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) have completed the design research for a 11,023 tons (10,000-tonne) deep-sea engineering survey ship. It will also feature a 16,404-foot (5,000 m) deepwater drilling kit, marking an important milestone on its journey toward construction.
Deep-sea research vessels are specially designed floating laboratories that carry out multiple oceanographic activities from a single platform. Several countries operate these vessels to explore local marine environments, track environmental change, and study its impact on human civilization.
China operates one of the largest marine and deep-sea research fleets, surpassing the US, the UK, European countries, and island nations such as Australia and Japan. A team of engineers, academics, and specialist researchers at CCCC spent the last two years completing the technical research that culminated in the final design of the vessel.
Features of the vessel
According to the design blueprint, the vessel will feature a Beidou time and space reference system for navigation and positioning. This will be a highly precise system necessary for offshore surveying and mapping.
In addition to these capabilities, the vessel will also feature in-situ testing and ocean observation onboard. The centerpiece of its capabilities is the 16,404 feet (5,000 m)deepwater drilling kit. The large-bore top drive supports multiple coring methods with a 150-tonne load rating.
More from Transportation
See AllTransportationInside BYD’s new luxury car powered by solid-state EV batteriesTransportationSelf-propelled Panther railcars get $100 million boost for commercial rolloutTransportationWorld’s first major ammonia-powered bulk carrier enters service for Australian iron oreTransportationLargest Mireo hydrogen train deployment gets 4.8 MW fuel cell boostTransportation72 real-world BMW trips suggest regenerative braking can spare EV battery rangeA traveling block heave compensation system facilitates both active and passive drilling modes. The heave compensation is designed to keep the drill string steady even when the ship rises and falls on the swells.
To test the seabed, the blueprint features an integrated downhole cone penetration system and uses a bottom-hold sampling method that can work at depths of nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and a penetration force of 100kN.
The design uses advanced geophysical survey approaches, including a mother ship plus crewed and uncrewed boats, and features some of the most advanced hydrological and meteorological survey equipment.
The vessel design boasts an integrated system that not only runs operations from the deck but also provides a platform for data fusion and tiered warnings.
39 patent applications
Although it is still a blueprint, it has already produced 31 technical plans, 22 papers, 14 software copyrights, and 39 invention patent applications. The team also developed two pieces of hardware and tested them as prototypes.
The work was assessed after the technical research was completed and found to be advanced at international levels overall, while some of the work was marked as world-leading, alocal media reportsaid.
The team explored ideas on how the vessel should be designed, built, and operated. While the design incorporates functions for offshore engineering, resource exploration, and scientific research onto one platform, the cost of such a construction, along with its timeline, has not been revealed.
Given China’s strength in maritime technologies, it is only a matter of when they build thisresearch vessel, rather than if they ever build it.
Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.
By subscribing, you agree to our
Terms of Useand
PoliciesYou may unsubscribe at any time.
0
COMMENT
Subscribe to
Today!
Access to exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.
Explore Now!By
Ameya PalejaAmeya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.
- 1Chinese EV giant's 31-joint humanoid robot could soon greet you at the car dealership
- 2US Coast Guard to add MQ-9B drones with 30-hour flight time to boost surveillance
- 3Why plugging ships into the grid can cost more than running onboard generators
- 4World's highest bridge at 2,050 feet turns advanced steel truss into extreme tourism hub
- 517-gigawatt Texas power project passes key hurdle for world's largest private grid
