- New Deep-Sea Research Vessel ‘Wenhai No 3’ Launched for Construction in China.
- China Commences Building of ‘Wenhai No 3’ for Advanced Deep-Sea Exploration.
- China’s ‘Wenhai No 3’ Set to Enhance Deep-Sea Research with Unmanned Technology.
Construction on Wenhai No 3, a new deep-sea research vessel ordered by Chinese company Qingdao Guoshi Intelligent Equipment Technology, has begun. The ship will be pivotal in unmanned intelligent equipment operations, reports Baird Maritime.
Main and Auxiliary Activities of the Ship
The primary role of the vessel will be acting as an unmanned intelligent equipment working mothership. In addition, it will undertake secondary duties that include aerial remote sensing surface detection, underwater search operations, and three-dimensional observation and detection.
Vessel Specifications and Research Equipment
At completion, the vessel will have a displacement of 3,000 tonnes at full load with an LOA of between 80 and 85 meters and a beam exceeding 15 meters. It will be equipped with 50 tonnes of scientific research equipment, optimized for deep-sea observation, exploration, equipment testing, and sampling.
Collaboration for Construction
The vessel is being constructed through a joint effort between the Chinese Ministry of Transport’s Yantai Salvage Bureau and the 701 and 712 Research Institute subsidiaries of the China Shipbuilding Group. This collaboration is essential to ensure the vessel meets the required specifications and research capabilities.
Project Budget and Completion Timeline
The contract sums to around CNY 179.4 million (US$24.58 million) for the new building. The vessel is to be completed by 2026, within 16 months from the start of construction.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Baird Maritime
