Tan Suo San Hao Explained

Tan Suo San Hao is a Chinese icebreaking research vessel under construction for the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Concurrently with Tan Suo San Hao, Guangzhou Shipyard International built a slightly smaller Polar Class 6 research vessel, Ji Di, which entered service in June 2024.

Design

Tan Suo San Hao measures 104m (341feet) in length overall and 19.7m (64.6feet) in beam, draws 7m (23feet) of water, and displaces about 10000t.[1] The vessel has a multidisciplinary scientific outfit with accommodation for up to 80 persons as well as ability to deploy China's deep-sea research submersibles Striver, Deep Sea Warrior, and Jiaolong. A 6mby4.8mm (20feetby15.7feetm) moon pool allows deploying and recovering autonomous underwater vehicles in ice-covered waters.

Tan Suo San Haos diesel-electric propulsion system consists of four 3000kW six-cylinder Wärtsilä 6L32 main diesel generators that power the ship's two 4.5MW ABB Azipod DI1400 azimuth thrusters.[2] This will give the vessel a maximum speed of in open water and enables it to break 1.2m (03.9feet) level ice with a 20cm (10inches) snow cover at a continuous speed of in both ahead and astern directions.[3]

Tan Suo San Hao is built to Polar Class 4, an ice class intended for year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may contain small inclusions of old sea ice that has survived at least one melting season without melting completely.[4]

History

Development and construction

Tan Suo San Hao is claimed to be the first research vessel of its kind developed indigenously in China.[5] The ¥800 million ship has been jointly funded by the People's Government of Hainan, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, and the vessel's future operator, Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The construction of the vessel began with a steel cutting ceremony at Guangzhou Shipyard International, a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, on 25 June 2023 and Tan Suo San Hao was floated out on 20 April 2024.

Career

Tan Suo San Hao is planned to enter service in 2025.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 我国首艘深远海多功能科学考察及文物考古船在中国船舶广船国际出坞. zh. My country's first deep-sea multi-functional scientific investigation and cultural relics archaeological ship launched. Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, CAS. 21 April 2024. 21 April 2024.
  2. Web site: ABB Process Automation. Another step forward for ice-going vessels. ABB has successfully delivered the first 4500 kW Azipod DI1400 units for PC4-rated Polar research icebreaker for shipyard installation.. LinkedIn. 21 April 2024.
  3. Web site: ABB wins Azipod deal for polar research vessel. Ship & Offshore. 1 September 2023. 21 April 2024.
  4. https://iacs.s3.af-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/12082657/uri-1.pdf Unified Requirements for Polar Class ships
  5. Web site: 中国首艘深远海科考及文物考古船在广州开工. zh. China's first deep-sea scientific research and cultural relics archaeological ship starts construction in Guangzhou. Jiemian. 26 June 2023. 21 April 2024.