MV Tian Kun Hao

MV Tian Kun Hao (天鯤) is a Chinese dredger that has been described variously as “Asia’s most powerful island maker” [1] and "magic island maker" due to its capability to dig 6,000 cubic metres per hour of sand/silt.[2] [3] The ship was launched at Qidong in Jiangsu province in November 2017.[4] The ship is apparently named after "a legendary enormous fish which can turn into a mythical bird". [3]

Design

  • Length = 140m[3]
  • Beam width = 28m
  • Designer = CCCC Tianjin Dredging
  • Dredging depth = 35m[3]
  • Discharge distance = 15km[3]

Purpose

Various sources have speculated that the ship will be used for island building in the area of the South China Sea claimed by China[2][1][5] and it has been described as a “military defense project”[5] for possible use in areas of territorial disputes with countries including Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Launch of Beijing’s new dredger may spark concerns of renewed island building in South China Sea: Testing of Tian Kun Hao could upset Beijing’s neighbours, but Chinese analyst says vessel will not be used to boost China’s claims in disputed waters, Laura Zhou & Kristin Huang, South China Morning Post, 2017-11-03
  2. 1 2 China unveils massive island-building vessel, Space Daily, 2017-11-04
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "What is China's 'magic island-making' ship?". BBC News. BBC News. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Asia's largest dredging vessel completes first sea trial". Xinhua. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 ‘Magic island-maker’: China unveils Asia’s largest cutting-edge dredger amid territorial rows, RT, 2017-11-04
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