Type 744 derived from the Type 985 buoy tender, the first purpose built buoy tender in the Chinese inventory. Type 985 is designed to be the replacement of earlier buoy tenders converted from former US Navy net laying ships. In the early 1980s, maritime navigational responsibility was transferred from PLAN to Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China (MOT). Type 985 was among the equipment transferred from PLAN to MOT and has remained in civilian service since.[1]
Type 994 buoy tender is the larger cousin of the smaller Type 985 buoy tender, from which it is developed. Like Type 985, all units of this class were transferred to civilian service under MOT:
Type 744 employs design modifications based on the experience gained on earlier ships. Type 744 is designed by the 708th Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The 708th Institute is more commonly known as China Shipbuilding and Oceanic Engineering Design Academy.[2] Construction began in December 1979 and four were completed, with the last ship entering service in May 1981. There are two subtypes, the civilian version Type 744 and the naval version Type 744A. The most obvious external visual difference between Types 744 and Type 744A is that the gun mount at in the bow of the naval version Type 744A is replaced by a mast in the civilian version. The ship received NATO reporting name as Yannan (延南) class.[3] [4] [5] [6] One of the Type 744A ships, Dongbiao 263, retired from Chinese Navy on August 1, 2015, and transferred to civilian service.[7] [8] Specification:[9]
72 kW x 4
| Type | NATO designation | Pennant No. | Name (English) | Name (Han 中文) | Builder | Commissioned | Length | Displacement | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 985 | ? | Hai-Biao 624 | Sea Buoy 624 | 海标 624 | 1966 | 65.22 | All fleets | Retired | ||
| Type 994 | ? | Various | Various | Various | Jiangnan Shipyard | 1970s | ? | All fleets | Retired | |
| Type 744 | Yannan-class | Hai-Biao 11 | Sea Buoy 11 | 海标 11 | Jiangnan Shipyard | Early 1980s | 72.35 | 2,000 t | Active | |
| Hai-Biao 12 | Sea Buoy 12 | 海标 12 | Jiangnan Shipyard | Early 1980s | 72.35 | 2,000 t | China Maritime Safety Administration | Active | ||
| Hai-Biao 21 | Sea Buoy 21 | 海标 21 | Jiangnan Shipyard | Early 1980s | 72.35 | 2,000 t | China Maritime Safety Administration | Active | ||
| Hai-Biao 24 | Sea Buoy 1 | 海标 24 | Jiangnan Shipyard | Early 1980s | 72.35 | 2,000 t | China Maritime Safety Administration | Active | ||
| Hai-Biao 25 | Sea Buoy 1 | 海标 25 | Jiangnan Shipyard | Early 1980s | 72.35 | 2,000 t | China Maritime Safety Administration | Active | ||
| Hai-Biao 31 | Sea Buoy 31 | 海标 31 | Jiangnan Shipyard | Early 1980s | 72.35 | 2,000 t | China Maritime Safety Administration | Active | ||
| Type 744A | Bei-Biao 982 | North Buoy 982 | 北标 982 | Jiangnan Shipyard | March 1981 | 72.35 | 2,000 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | |
| Bei-Biao 983 | North Buoy 983 | 北标 983 | Jiangnan Shipyard | May 1981 | 72.35 | 2,000 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
| Dong-Biao 263 | East Buoy 263 | 东标 263 | Jiangnan Shipyard | December 6, 1980 | 72.35 | 2,000 t | East Sea Fleet | Retired & transferred to civilian agency on August 1, 2015. | ||
| Nan-Biao 463 | South Buoy 463 | 南标 463 | Jiangnan Shipyard | December 14, 1980 | 72.35 | 2,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active |
