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![\"china's](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/\u8003\u5bdf\u8239\u5927\u4e8b\u8bb0_EN-1440x2480.jpg\")
<\/div><\/p>\nChina\u2019s first ocean survey fleet was made up of only the Xiang Yang Hong (Facing the Red Sun) series of research and naval vessels. Today, China has almost 60 marine research vessels<\/a> in use. These include the Xue Long icebreakers and the Xiang Yang Hong, Da Yang, Ke Xue (Science) and Dong Fang Hong series of general research vessels. Many have been designed and built in the last decade.<\/p>\n China\u2019s growing presence comes as inshore fisheries are increasingly depleted and technological advances are making it easier to exploit distant waters as well as the riches of the deep sea. Indeed, the high seas \u2013 those areas of our oceans beyond national jurisdictions \u2013 have become a new hot spot in the struggle to gain influence and control over resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n Scientific research has a key role to play in this. It\u2019s thanks to survey work carried out by some of the research vessels looked at in this article that China has acquired five deep-sea prospecting licences<\/a>, for instance. But research can also play a key role in efforts to strengthen conservation \u2013 it was scientific confirmation of the ecological vulnerability of the waters off the Antarctic Peninsula that led to the world\u2019s five largest krill fishing firms halting activities<\/a> there.<\/p>\n The ongoing upgrading of China\u2019s research fleet and its expanding cooperation with international scientific missions reflects the country\u2019s dual marine ambitions. China wants its share of the world\u2019s resources \u2013 but it also wants its share of global governance responsibilities.<\/p>\n With this in mind, we take an in-depth look at nine currently or soon-to-be active research vessels from China\u2019s fleet, selected for their achievements or for their cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n Type: General survey vessel; and later submersible mothership <\/div>\n The Xiang Yang Hong 09 was the first 4,500-tonne-class distant-water research vessel to be designed and built in China, and is the last surviving member of the original Xiang Yang Hong series. It was the first Chinese vessel to participate in international distant-water research back in the 1970s, and was rushed to completion in only a year so that it could join World Meteorological Organisation atmospheric experiments. It later took part in several more joint expeditions, including surveys of the East China Sea with US vessels, of the Kuroshio current with Japanese vessels and of the mouth of the Yangtze River with French vessels, as well as undertaking China\u2019s own ocean research projects.<\/p>\n Then, when China started preparing for trials of manned submersibles in 2006, a mothership was needed. With few large-tonnage research vessels available, the Xiang Yang Hong 09 took on a new role, despite being 30 years old. It successfully supported sea trials of the Jiaolong submersible, including a national record dive to a depth of 7,062 metres in the Mariana Trench. Its role as the Jiaolong\u2019s mothership has now been handed over to a purpose-built vessel, the Shen Hai Yi Hao (Deep Sea One), and it is now awaiting refitting and a new mission.<\/p>\n Type: General survey vessel <\/div>\n A frequent traveller with three global surveys under its belt, the Da Yang Yi Hao (Ocean One) was built by the USSR in 1985 as a geology and geophysics survey vessel. It was purchased by China in 1994 and later refitted to become the country\u2019s first modern distant-water survey vessel.<\/p>\n Owned by the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, the ship\u2019s main purpose is prospecting for mineral resources. An imaging system fitted to the stern allows for detailed real-time mapping of the ocean floor. Other on-board equipment allows for sampling of seawater and minerals from the seabed. In 2007, the Da Yang Yi Hao dispatched an automated submersible to a depth of 2,800 metres at the Southwest Indian Ridge and identified hydrothermal vents<\/a> rich in minerals, the first such discovery in the region. This prompted the signing of a 15-year prospecting contract between China and the International Seabed Authority, covering a 10,000 square kilometre area of the Southwest Indian Ridge.<\/p>\n Type: General survey vessel <\/p>\n When work started on the design and build of the Ke Xue in 2007, it was intended to fill a gap in deep-sea research. At that point, most of China\u2019s distant-water research ships had been designed to prospect for minerals, and its other scientific vessels were mainly coastal. When it first took to the seas in 2013, the Ke Xue was China\u2019s most advanced scientific vessel, with 670 square metres of laboratories on board. Its achievements include the discovery of large sulphur beds around the hydrothermal vents of the Okinawa Trough, and collection of China\u2019s first data on how the El Ni\u00f1o starts and ends.<\/p>\n Unlike most marine research vessels, which are long and thin, the Ke Xue is short and wide, making it better able to withstand rough seas and maintain a precise position. In October 2019, it set off from Qingdao with 70 crew members and international researchers from 12 institutions and universities to fulfil 40 tasks set by China\u2019s National Natural Science Foundation, its longest trip since its maiden voyage. Such multi-agency, multi-mission trips are a new normal for Chinese research vessels.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Type: General survey vessel <\/p>\n Between the 1960s and 1990s, China built or refitted a number of ships for research purposes. All those belonging to the State Oceanic Administration (SAO) or the navy were given the Xiang Yang Hong name and a number, establishing a naming convention for Chinese research vessels. Of those original vessels, only the Xiang Yang Hong 09 remains in service. The Xiang Yang Hong 03 is a new vessel that joined the SOA\u2019s survey fleet in March 2016. It is currently China\u2019s most advanced 4,500-tonne-class general survey vessel, fitted with all-electric \u201cazimuth\u201d thrusters and bow thrusters, which allow it to turn 360 degrees on the spot. It also has some ice-breaking capabilities.<\/p>\n In 2019, the Xiang Yang Hong 03 joined the Pilot Ocean Laboratory\u2019s<\/a> distant-water and deep-sea survey fleet. It runs open trips, allowing any Chinese research team to apply for space on board. A multipurpose ship, it supports research into a wide range of areas, including ocean waters, microbial genetic resources, polymetallic nodules in both deep-sea and coastal regions, as well as deep-sea environments and biodiversity. Its specialised equipment can be used in high-pressure, low-temperature, low-nutrient and low-light deep-sea environments, as well as to cultivate microorganisms in ways that can\u2019t be done on land. The vessel can even be deployed in non-research related scenarios, such as helping clean up coasts affected by oil spills.<\/p>\n Type: Distant and deep-water general survey training vessel <\/p>\n The Dong Fang Hong 3 is China\u2019s largest \u201csilent\u201d scientific vessel<\/a>, and also has the research fleet\u2019s largest crew and biggest deck and laboratory areas. To gain the strictest international certification for underwater noise, the ship\u2019s designers broke with precedent and used military-grade technology to reduce vibrations. This not only helps protect the crew\u2019s well-being, but also reduces disruption to marine life and allows for the collection of more accurate data. As the chief designer said: \u201cA fish 20 metres under the water wouldn\u2019t even notice it passing overhead.\u201d Research on controlling underwater noise was only just getting started in China when the shipbuilding contract for this vessel was signed \u2013 the handover and launch of the Dong Fang Hong 3 indicates how rapidly China\u2019s shipbuilding technology is developing.<\/p>\n Type: Fisheries science and survey vessel <\/p>\n The Yellow and Bohai seas are home to many of China\u2019s most important fisheries. With damage to coastal areas worsening, there is a pressing need for accurate assessments of both fishery resources and the marine environment. The Lan Hai 101 was built to meet this need. It is China\u2019s most advanced fisheries research vessel, featuring a range of onboard laboratories<\/a>. Researchers can conduct comprehensive surveys of fishery stocks, but also trial new fishing gear and techniques, or look for new fishing grounds. The Lan Hai 101 will also carry out research in distant waters.<\/p>\n On its maiden voyage in July 2019, the Lan Hai 101 carried 64 researchers from the National Natural Science Foundation on a 15-day tour of the Yellow and Bohai seas to conduct studies in the fields of hydrology, meteorology and chemistry. Large quantities of data on the atmosphere, water, sediments and organisms were gathered.<\/p>\n Type: General survey vessel <\/p>\n The Da Yang Hao is designed to prospect for a range of marine resources and carry out multidisciplinary deep-sea research. Thought by some to \u201crepresent a new era<\/a> for China\u2019s research into the ocean environment\u201d, it has been described as a floating laboratory. It has over 50 pieces of surveying and monitoring equipment and 400 square metres of laboratories all dedicated to the study of marine geology, marine ecology and the atmosphere. In December 2019, on its maiden voyage to the Atlantic, it carried out seismological studies<\/a> of the seabed.<\/p>\n The vessel can also work in the frozen waters of the Arctic and Antarctica. It is one of very few Chinese vessels to have vertical blade propellers, which are quieter and more manoeuvrable than traditional propellers, and is able to study the deep sea even in four-metre swell.<\/p>\n Type: Special survey vessel (polar icebreaker) <\/p>\n After a 10-year design and build process, the Xue Long 2, China\u2019s most advanced polar icebreaker, set sail for the Antarctic in 2019, joining its sister ship the Xue Long for the country\u2019s 36th<\/sup> Antarctic survey. In August this year, it joined the international MOSAiC<\/a> (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition, delivering supplies and personnel to the German science vessel the Polarstern.<\/p>\n The Xue Long 2 is the world\u2019s first ship that can break ice both when moving forwards and backwards, and is able to maintain 2-3 knots of speed in ice 1.5 metres thick with 0.2 metres of snow cover. That is twice as fast as its sister ship, the Xue Long. Its proprietary keel design helps break up ice below the vessel to protect its underwater sonar. The ship\u2019s better icebreaking capabilities mean more opportunities for scientists to conduct research in the polar regions over longer periods. Most polar research vessels are restricted to the summer, but the Xue Long 2 can work for 150 days a year from spring to autumn.<\/p>\n China has expanded its polar governance strategy in recent years, with a January 2018 policy white paper<\/a> discussing the development of an \u201cArctic Silk Road<\/a>\u201d. At the same time, China is building its presence in the Antarctic. The Xue Long 2 will make it easier to take advantage of new shipping routes opening up in the Arctic, and will also make it possible to support more scientists at the country\u2019s polar research bases, including a new Antarctic research station currently under construction.<\/p>\n Type: Special survey vessel (submersible mothership) The Shen Hai Yi Hao has been designed to carry the Jiaolong, China\u2019s biggest manned deep-sea submersible. It is the first such vessel to be designed in China and will replace the ageing Xiang Yang Hong 09 as the Jiaolong\u2019s mothership.<\/p>\n On the Xiang Yang Hong 09, the Jiaolong had to be stored on deck, exposed to the elements. The Shen Hai Yi Hao features a dedicated space where the underwater vessel can be stored, resupplied and maintained, allowing for more frequent dives and easier recovery. The Shen Hai Yi Hao can also carry two remote-controlled submersibles, and all three of the submersibles can operate simultaneously.<\/p>\n Once complete, a year-long trip around the world is planned for the Shen Hai Yi Hao and the Jiaolong, with stops at key \u201cmarine Silk Road\u201d nations. The ship\u2019s main tasks will include prospecting for deep-sea minerals, studying the deep-sea environment, high seas conservation and international cooperation on cutting-edge deep-sea science.<\/p>\n Vessels illustrated by Li Jinghua. Additional graphics by Harry Zhang.<\/em><\/p>\n Freelancer Zhang Yiyi and former China Dialogue intern Tang Zheng also contributed to this article.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The changing make-up of China\u2019s marine research fleet reflects the nation\u2019s ambitions. Here, we take a look at nine of its ships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":40067700,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50039901],"tags":[20000740,40027800,597],"hashtags":[],"country":[20000110],"class_list":["post-40077186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ocean","tag-arctic","tag-deep-sea-mining","tag-technology","country-china"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"home](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/home_ports_English-662x690.jpg\")
<\/p>\nXiang Yang Hong 09<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 4,425 tonnes
\nLength: 112.05 metres
\nDelivered: 1978
\nDesigner: 708th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation
\nShipbuilder: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding
\nOwner: North China Sea branch, State Oceanic Administration
\nHome port: Qingdao, Shandong province<\/p>\n![\"Xiang](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Xiang-Yang-Hong-09-1440x561.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDa Yang Yi Hao<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 5,600 tonnes
\nLength: 104.5 metres
\nDelivered: 1985
\nRefitted: 2002
\nShipbuilder: Kherson Shipyard, Ukraine (then part of the USSR)
\nRefitter: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding
\nOwner: China Ocean Mineral Resource R&D Association (COMRA)
\nHome port: Qingdao, Shandong province<\/p>\n![\"Da](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Da-Yang-Yi-Hao-1440x1023.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKe Xue<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 4,771 tonnes
\nLength: 99.8 metres
\nDelivered: 2012
\nDesigner: 708th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation
\nShipbuilder: Wuchang Shipbuilding
\nOwner: Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
\nHome port: Qingdao, Shandong province<\/p>\n
\n![\"Ke](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Ke-Xue-1440x939.jpg\")
<\/div>\nXiang Yang Hong 03<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 4,800 tonnes
\nLength: 99.6 metres
\nDelivered: 2016
\nDesigner: 708th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation
\nShipbuilder: Wuchang Shipbuilding
\nOwner: Third Institute of Oceanology, Ministry of Natural Resources
\nHome port: Xiamen, Fujian province<\/p>\n
\n![\"Xiang](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Xiang-Yang-Hong-03-1440x958.jpg\")
<\/div>\nDong Fang Hong 3<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 5,000 tonnes
\nLength: 103 metres
\nDelivered: 2015
\nDesigner: 708th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation
\nShipbuilder: Jiangnan Shipbuilding
\nOwner: China Ocean University
\nHome port: Qingdao, Shandong province<\/p>\n
\n![\"Dong](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Dong-Fang-Hong-3-1440x826.jpg\")
<\/div>\nLan Hai 101<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 3,289 tonnes
\nLength: 84.5 metres
\nDelivered: 2019
\nDesigner: 702th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation,
\nShipbuilder: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding
\nOwner: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute
\nHome port: Qingdao, Shandong province<\/p>\n
\n![\"Lan](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Lan-Hai-101-1440x994.jpg\")
<\/div>\nDa Yang Hao<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 4,656 tonnes
\nLength: 98.5 metres
\nDelivered: July 2019
\nDesigner: 701th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation
\nShipbuilder: CSSC Guangzhou Huangpu Shipbuilding
\nOwner: Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources
\nHome port: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province<\/p>\n
\n![\"Da](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Da-Yang-Hao-1440x455.jpg\")
<\/div>\nXue Long 2<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 13,996 tonnes
\nLength: 122.5 metres
\nDelivered: 2019
\nDesigner: 708th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation & Finland\u2019s Aker Arctic Technology
\nShipbuilder: Jiangnan Shipbuilding
\nOwner: Polar Research Institute of China
\nHome port: Pudong, Shanghai<\/p>\n
\n![\"Xue](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Xue-Long-2-1440x858.jpg\")
<\/div>\nShen Hai Yi Hao<\/h2>\n
\nDisplacement: 4,500 tonnes
\nLength: 90.2 metres
\nDelivery: Soon
\nDesigner: 708th<\/sup> Research Institute, China State Shipbuilding Corporation
\nShipbuilder: Wuchang Shipbuilding
\nOwner: China Deep Sea Centre
\nHome port: Qingdao, Shandong province<\/p>\n
\n![\"Shen](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Shen-Hai-Yi-Hao-1440x630.jpg\")
<\/div>\n