China's Deep Sea Ambition, Technology, Expeditions: News & Updates

[samsara]

China's largest semi-submersible ship unveiled in Guangzhou

The world's second largest semi-submersible ship has been unveiled to the public at a ceremony in Guangzhou city of south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday (08 Dec 2016).

The new ship dubbed "Xinguanghua", meaning the 'new brightness', is China's largest such vessel at 255 meters long and 68 meters wide. It has been designed and manufactured entirely by the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited(GSICL).

"The deck has an area of 14,000 square meters, which is bigger than two standard football fields. It can carry about 100,000 tons of cargo," said Han Guangde, chairman of GSICL.

Han added that as well as Xinguanghua's sheer size and power, it is also equipped with some of the finest technological systems in the world. The ship's positioning system, for example, features a high-tech Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), as well as advanced laser and radar systems, which enables it to maintain highly accurate positioning to within 5 millimeters of its target.

"When (anchored) on dry land, or in a static condition, keeping error within five millimeters is fairly easy to achieve. But out in the vast ocean, when a ship is floating on sea water, it needs to calculate the wind, the current and also take into account the ship's movement. So keeping positioning to within just five millimeters of error is a very big challenge," Han said.

The ship is also highly automatized with some 9000 automatic monitoring points working like just like a human neural system so that any slight fault or deviation will be detected immediately.

In addition, Xinguanghua is capable of navigating oceans all over globe as it has a strong ice breaking capacity.

The ship will primarily be used to work with large sea drills and to transport large cargo. It is also on hand to offer assistance during any rescue missions.

Source: China Central Television (CCTV) 2016-12-08

 

[Saifullah Sani]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1449902158383933

China's largest semi-submersible ship unveiled in Guangzhou

The world's second largest semi-submersible ship has been unveiled to the public in Guangzhou city of south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday.

The new ship, Xinguanghua, meaning new light in English, is China's largest such vessel – it is 255 meters long and 68 meters wide. It has been designed and manufactured entirely by the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited.

The ship's deck has an area of 14,000 square meters, which is bigger than two standard football fields, and can carry about 100,000 tons of cargo. It is also equipped with some of the finest technological systems in the world.

 

[graphican]

I don't get it. What is the purpose of having a semi-submerged ship?

• If it is a cargo vessel, there is no point of submerging and destroying the cargo it carries.
• Is that an ice-breaker? It doesn't have to be this large in size to do that job, and submerging is still not explained.

Is it a boat carrier?
Like "AirCraft Carrier" is it an attack boat carrier? And in order to release boats and take them back, it would submerge under water?

Is submerging a hiding tactic?
Again if this is the point, it would wet everything on the desk.

Does submerging makes on-loading / offloading of cargo containers easier?
Possibly, but you need a very deep port to be able to do that.

So the main question remains... why is it needed at all?

 

[shadows888]

I don't get it. What is the purpose of having a semi-submerged ship?

• If it is a cargo vessel, there is no point of submerging and destroying the cargo it carries.
• Is that an ice-breaker? It doesn't have to be this large in size to do that job, and submerging is still not explained.

Is it a boat carrier?
Like "AirCraft Carrier" is it an attack boat carrier? And in order to release boats and take them back, it would submerge under water?

Is submerging a hiding tactic?
Again if this is the point, it would wet everything on the desk.

So the main question remains... why is it needed at all?

it's a commercial ship to MOVE big things like oil platforms, submarines.

See video below
"The world's biggest heavy-lift ship is longer than three football fields and can carry some of the heaviest and largest objects on earth - including oil rigs, submarines and lots of shipping containers. Here's a look at theDockwise Vanguard, a ship that ships ships."

 

[samsara]

2016.12.09
COSCO LAUNCHES LARGEST SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE

Breakbulk carrier COSCO Shipping has rebranded as COSCO Shipping Special Transport and launched its largest semi-submersible vessel to date, the Xin Guang Hua.

The rebrand will see the group focus on becoming a “specialty shipping” company and a world leading engineering and logistics service provider. Alongside the name change, the firm launched the Xin Guang Hua, adding to its already large fleet of heavy-lift offshore vessels.

The 100,000 deadweight-tonne Xin Guang Hua is China’s largest and the world’s second-biggest semi-submersible vessel and features dive draft of 30.5 meters and length overall of 255 meters.

Earlier this year, COSCO merged with rival shipping line China Shipping Container Lines to create one of the largest shipping lines in the world. COSCO manages 832 vessels, including the world’s largest multipurpose heavy-lift fleet as well as a variety of breakbulk vessels, semi-submersibles, container ships and roll-on, roll-off vessels.

Photo: The Xin Guang Hua. Credit: COSCO

http://www.breakbulk.com/cosco-launches-largest-semi-submersible/

 

[samsara]

Following article by the Popular Science may also help readers to understand the many functions of the semi-submersible ship.

China Goes Big With One Of World's Largest Support Ships

Guang Hua Kou Hits The Water

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer May 31, 2016

The Guang Hua Kou was launched at the Guangdong Shipyard International (also builder to many other Chinese naval supply and logistic ships) on April 28, 2016. Built for COSCO Shipping Co., Ltd. (or COSCOL), a state-owned shipping line, the 98,000 ton Guang Hua Kou will be the second largest heavy lift semi-submersible ship in the world.

The Guang Hua Kou's deck area measures 211.2 meters by 68 meters. It can also submerge its deck to 16 meters underwater. This enormous logistic capability will allow China to transport maritime infrastructure to anywhere in the world, and deploy items like floating docks and offshore platforms by flooding its ballast tanks to lower its deck area underwater. It could be used for humanitarian response, deep sea drilling and mining, or building floating offshore military bases for global expeditionary campaigns.

With a capacity to lift well beyond that of normal cargo ships, semi-submersibles also have uses beyond the energy industry, including for navies. They have been used, for example, to move smaller, shorter-ranged US Navy warships and patrol craft in deployments across oceans, as well as carry large damaged ships back to port. The USS Cole, for example, was lifted back to the United States by the MV Blue Marlin heavy lift semi-submersible after being damaged in a 2000 attack. Similarly, in April of 2016, it was explored for the new USS Fort Worth to be carried back to the US by such type ships, after engine damage stranded the LCS in Singapore (it eventually decided to return the Fort Worth under its own steam).

While owned by a state-owned civilian company, the Guang Hua Kou would potentially be available to the PLAN as it extends its global presence, much as the US Navy contracts heavy lift ships and civilian planes during peacetime and plans to do so in wartime. For instance, Guang Hua Kou's large size means it could accommodate outsized cargo such as any guided missile destroyer like the Type 055 or 052D that have lost power far from home port, much like the MV Blue Marlin's use above for the US equivalents. The same assets could be used in operations ranging from humanitarian disaster relief to amphibious operations, particularly in areas where ports are insufficient. Similar to the smaller Chinese "H1183" and USN Expeditionary Transfer Dock heavy lift ships, the massive deck space of large semi-submersible ships are also able to carry large hovercraft, landing craft, or helicopters.

China's rising technological and financial might has resulted in the development of large and world class assets that extend its reach globally. Whether in the maritime domain as seen in the Guang Hua Kou and South China Sea artificial islands, space launch in the Long March 5 heavy rocket, or the largest nuclear reactor construction program in human history, Beijing has launched a series of massive projects that will enhance both its civilian as well as military prowess.

http://www.popsci.com/china-goes-big-with-one-worlds-largest-support-ships

 

[Basel]

China's largest semi-submersible ship unveiled in Guangzhou

How large ships or submarines it can carry???

 

[Beast]

it's a commercial ship to MOVE big things like oil platforms, submarines.

See video below
"The world's biggest heavy-lift ship is longer than three football fields and can carry some of the heaviest and largest objects on earth - including oil rigs, submarines and lots of shipping containers. Here's a look at theDockwise Vanguard, a ship that ships ships."

Not only that. In war time, it will be acquire by PLAN and can carry 3 to 4 Zubr for across the ocean amphibious operation.

 

[samsara]

How large ships or submarines it can carry???

It can carry at least as big as the USS Cole.

 

[ahojunk]

Chinese unmanned submersibles descend 10,000 meters underwater
2016-12-29 16:46 | Xinhua | Editor: Li Yan

Three unmanned deep sea devices descended over 10,000 meters underwater and completed sea tests in the Pacific, said Chinese scientists leading the research.

Cui Weicheng, director of Hadal Life Science Research Center at Shanghai Ocean University, led a team of researchers to carry out research at the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world's ocean.

The group left Dec. 3 on Zhang Jian, a research vessel and mothership of the Rainbow Fish series, and included three deep-sea landing devices, one unmanned search submersible and a manned submersible, all capable of diving 10,000 meters.

From Dec. 25-27, three deep-sea landing devices descended into the trench, Cui told Xinhua.

The first Rainbow Fish landing device took photographs, the second took sediment samples and the third took biological samples, Cui said.

All three submersibles reached over 10,000 meters, and the third device brought back 103 amphipods, he said.

The Rainbow Fish project is a mobile lab co-funded by the state and private capital.

"The successful sea test marks another step in China's deep-sea research," Cui said.

Globally, there are 26 hadal trenches, defined as those with depths of 6,500 meters or more. They are home to many unknown species as well as energy and metal resources.

In August, China's unmanned submersible "Haidou-1" dived to a depth of 10,767 meters at the Mariana Trench, setting a new Chinese record.

China became the third country after Japan and the United States to build submersibles capable of reaching depths in excess of 10,000 meters.

Scientists forecast China will have a manned submersible capable of descending to 10,000 meters by 2019 or 2020.

 

[TaiShang]

Scientists forecast China will have a manned submersible capable of descending to 10,000 meters by 2019 or 2020.

Now that would be something as exciting to watch as a space mission.

Looking forward for the day.

 

[JSCh]

Project for constructing a deep sea high pressure simulation test facility in Sichuan has just been initiated. One of its function is to stress test the spherical shell of the manned submersible.

全球最大“深海超高压模拟试验装置”在四川完成辅框架锻造
2016-12-05 13:00 来源：澎湃新闻 科技部

锻造完成后进行初加工的辅框架立柱。
​

我国也是世界上个头最大、工作压力最高的深海超高压模拟试验装置，目前正在四川德阳开工建造。
该装置的研发由国家重点研发计划“深海关键技术与装备”重点专项立项支持，是全海深载人潜水器关键技术研发相关项目之一。目标是为我国自行研制的全海深载人球壳提供压力测试条件，同时提升我国超高压试验装置的设计和制造能力。

大型深海超高压模拟试验装置设计效果图。
​

该项目由四川航空工业川西机器有限责任公司牵头承担，中国第二重型机械集团公司德阳制造基地负责试验装置主机系统的具体建设，现已完成辅框架立柱和半圆梁的锻造，进入初加工阶段。在第三方监理见证下进行性能检测和探伤，对达到技术要求的产品进一步开展精加工。与此同时，项目团队正在按计划推进中科院深海所临时缠绕厂房建设，现已完成厂房选址和工程设计，正在进行规划报批、公开招标及土建施工等准备工作。

 

[AndrewJin]

Project for constructing a deep sea high pressure simulation test facility in Sichuan has just been initiated. One of its function is to stress test the spherical shell of the manned submersible.

全球最大“深海超高压模拟试验装置”在四川完成辅框架锻造
2016-12-05 13:00 来源：澎湃新闻 科技部

锻造完成后进行初加工的辅框架立柱。
​

我国也是世界上个头最大、工作压力最高的深海超高压模拟试验装置，目前正在四川德阳开工建造。
该装置的研发由国家重点研发计划“深海关键技术与装备”重点专项立项支持，是全海深载人潜水器关键技术研发相关项目之一。目标是为我国自行研制的全海深载人球壳提供压力测试条件，同时提升我国超高压试验装置的设计和制造能力。

大型深海超高压模拟试验装置设计效果图。
​

该项目由四川航空工业川西机器有限责任公司牵头承担，中国第二重型机械集团公司德阳制造基地负责试验装置主机系统的具体建设，现已完成辅框架立柱和半圆梁的锻造，进入初加工阶段。在第三方监理见证下进行性能检测和探伤，对达到技术要求的产品进一步开展精加工。与此同时，项目团队正在按计划推进中科院深海所临时缠绕厂房建设，现已完成厂房选址和工程设计，正在进行规划报批、公开招标及土建施工等准备工作。

Innovation in Western China!

 

[ahojunk]

Chinese unmanned submersibles descend 10,890 meters in Mariana Trench
2016-12-30 11:39:54 Xinhua/CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Guo Jing

Workers release a deep sea landing facility at the world deepest Mariana Trench in the Pacific. [Photo: weibo.com]

Three unmanned deep sea landing facilities descended over 10,000 meters underwater and completed sea tests in the world deepest Mariana Trench in the Pacific.

Cui Weicheng, director of Hadal Life Science Research Center at Shanghai Ocean University, led a team of researchers to carry out research at the Challenger Deep project in the Mariana Trench.

The group left Dec. 3 on Zhangjian, a research vessel and mothership of the Rainbow Fish series, and included three deep-sea landing devices, one unmanned search submersible and a manned submersible, all capable of diving 10,000 meters.

From Dec. 25 to 27, three deep-sea landing devices descended into the trench.

The first Rainbow Fish landing device took photographs, the second took sediment samples and the third took biological samples, Cui said.

All three submersibles reached over 10,000 meters, and the third device brought back 103 amphipods, he said.

The Rainbow Fish project is a mobile lab co-funded by the state and private capital.

Workers release a deep sea landing facility at the world deepest Mariana Trench in the Pacific.
[Photo: weibo.com]

"The successful sea test marks another step in China's deep-sea research," Cui said.

Globally, there are 26 hadal trenches, defined as those with depths of 6,500 meters or more. They are home to many unknown species as well as energy and metal resources.

In August, China's unmanned submersible "Haidou-1" dived to a depth of 10,767 meters at the Mariana Trench, setting a new Chinese record.

China became the third country after Japan and the United States to build submersibles capable of reaching depths in excess of 10,000 meters.

Scientists forecast China will have a manned submersible capable of descending to 10,000 meters by 2019 or 2020.

Workers release a deep sea landing facility at the world deepest Mariana Trench in the Pacific. [Photo: weibo.com]

Workers check samples taken back by deep sea landing facilities at the world deepest Mariana Trench in the Pacific.
[Photo: weibo.com]

 

[ahojunk]

More pictures of another submersible - Jiaolong.
The previous post was that of Haidou-1.

========
Chinese submersible carries out preparatory drill for 38th expedition
2016-12-29 08:30 | People's Daily Online | Editor:Li Yan

On Dec. 27, Chinese deep-sea research submersible Jiaolong carried out a drill on the dock of the National Deep Sea Center. The drill was part of the vessel's preparation for the 38th scientific expedition to be conducted next year. The drill verified system-wide functions and operation procedures of the submersible. In addition, adaptive training for crew members was also offered. (Photo/Xinhua)

On Dec. 27, Chinese deep-sea research submersible Jiaolong carried out a drill on the dock of the National Deep Sea Center. The drill was part of the vessel's preparation for the 38th scientific expedition to be conducted next year. The drill verified system-wide functions and operation procedures of the submersible. In addition, adaptive training for crew members was also offered. (Photo/Xinhua)

On Dec. 27, Chinese deep-sea research submersible Jiaolong carried out a drill on the dock of the National Deep Sea Center. The drill was part of the vessel's preparation for the 38th scientific expedition to be conducted next year. The drill verified system-wide functions and operation procedures of the submersible. In addition, adaptive training for crew members was also offered. (Photo/Xinhua)