MV Xue Long 2

MV Xue Long 2 (simplified Chinese: 雪龙2; traditional Chinese: 雪龍2; pinyin: Xuě Lóng 2; lit.: 'Snow Dragon 2') is a Chinese icebreaking research vessel that entered service in 2019. She follows the naming of MV Xue Long, China's first polar research vessel.[4]

History
China
Name: Xue Long 2 (simplified Chinese: 雪龙2; traditional Chinese: 雪龍2; pinyin: Xuě Lóng 2)
Owner: Polar Research Institute of China
Port of registry: Shanghai, China
Builder: Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai, China
Yard number: H2650
Launched: 10 September 2018[1]
Completed: 11 July 2019[2]
Identification: IMO number: 9829241
Status: In service
General characteristics [3]
Type: Research vessel
Displacement: 14,300 tons
Length: 122.5 m (402 ft)
Beam: 22.3 m (73 ft)
Draught:
  • 7.9 m (26 ft) (design)
  • 8.3 m (27 ft) (maximum)
Depth: 11.8 m (39 ft)
Ice class: Polar Class 3
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (1 engine)
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) (2 engines)
  • 2–3 knots (3.7–5.6 km/h; 2.3–3.5 mph) (icebreaking)
Capacity: 90 crew and scientists
Aviation facilities: Helideck and hangar

History

The 5 million euro[5] design contract for China's first domestically-built polar research vessel was signed in 2012 with the Finnish engineering company Aker Arctic, though construction did not begin until December 2016.[6][4] She is being built at Jiangnan Shipyard[4] and entered service on 11 July 2019.[2]

Xue Long 2 will serve both as a supply vessel for China's research facilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and as a research vessel, with capabilities for geological and biological experimentation and surveying.[7]

Design

Xue Long 2 measures 122.5 metres (402 ft) long, with a beam of 22.3 metres (73 ft) and a draft of 8.3 metres (27 ft) at full load.[7] She has a displacement of 14,300 tonnes.[7] She has a diesel-electric propulsion system, with two 16-cylinder and two 12-cylinder engines, both Wärtsilä 32-series designs, powering two 7.5 MW Azipod propulsion units that give her a speed of up to 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) when breaking ice.[7] Her ice class is Polar Class 3 and she is able to break ice up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) thick while traveling either ahead or astern.[7]

References
  1. China Launches Icebreaker Xuelong 2. The Maritime Executive, 10 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. "Icebreaker Xuelong 2 joins service on China national maritime day". Global Times. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  3. China builds first polar research ship. The Motorship, 17 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  4. "First Chinese-built polar icebreaker gets name". Xinhua. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. China awards Aker Arctic contract for icebreaker design. MarineLog, 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  6. "New icebreaker planned by 2016: officials". China Daily. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. "China builds first polar research ship". The Motorship. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
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