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. 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. China unveils massive island-building vessel, Space Daily, 2017-11-04
  3. "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. ‘Magic island-maker’: China unveils Asia’s largest cutting-edge dredger amid territorial rows, RT, 2017-11-04
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