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AGB Xuelong / Snow Dragon

Sun Yat-sen University Polar
Zhongshan University Polar

On 24 June 2024, China's latest research vessel Jidi, [meaning ; "Polar" or "polar region"], was officially delivered in Guangzhou city of South China's Guangdong Province and was reportedly set to kick off its first scientific research missions in the second half of this year. The vessel measures 89 meters long with a width of 17.8 meters, with displacement of 5,600 tonnes. It has capacity for 60 crew members and a range of 26,000 kilometers, with at-sea endurance of up to 80 days. The designed icebreaking capacity is Canadian CAC4, equivalent to PC3. In theory, it has the ability to sustain operation for 100 days without resupply. Its icebreaking capacity ranks among the best in the world. Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di is a Chinese icebreaker owned by the Sun Yat-sen University. She was built in 1983 as an icebreaking anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) Ikaluk for BeauDril, the drilling subsidiary of Gulf Canada Resources, to support offshore oil exploration in the Beaufort Sea. In the 1990s, the vessel was acquired by Canadian Marine Drilling (Canmar) and renamed Canmar Ikaluk. In 1998, she was purchased by Smit International and served in the Sakhalin oil fields as Smit Sibu. In 2009, she was acquired by FEMCO Management and in 2012 given back her original name. Ikaluk was sold to Chinese explorers Zhang Xinyu and Liang Hong in February 2018 and renamed Beijing Ocean Leader. In late 2021, the vessel was donated to the Sun Yat-sen University. In order to better serve the ship in ocean and polar-related work, Sun Yat-sen University invested nearly 100 million yuan to transform the ship and equip it with advanced detection equipment. On 03 February 2023, at Guangzhou Wenchong Wharf, China's first icebreaker for universities, the "Sun Yat-sen University Polar", successfully completed its trial voyage in the Bohai Sea ice area and arrived at its home port in Guangzhou. This voyage was the "first show" of the "Sun Yat-sen University Polar" in the sea ice area after it was transformed into a scientific research vessel. It successfully verified the Polar's capabilities of low-temperature navigation, icebreaking, shipboard scientific research equipment, and ice area scientific research support. It became the first icebreaker with polar scientific research capabilities in a Chinese university and the third in the country. Chasing ice for 3,000 kilometers, successfully completing the trial voyage mission The Polar set out from Guangzhou on the coast of the South China Sea on January 17, crossing the four major sea areas of the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, with a one-way distance of 1,500 nautical miles, which tested the Polaris's long-distance navigation and operating performance. It experienced strong winds and huge waves on the way, encountered 4.5-meter waves in the Chengshantou waters on January 24, and arrived at the Liaodong Bay ice area in the Bohai Sea in the early morning of January 25. This voyage coincided with the strongest Arctic cold wave this winter. The temperature dropped significantly in most parts of China, the sea ice area in Bohai Sea increased significantly to a record high in recent years, and the air temperature reached nearly minus 20 degrees Celsius. The extreme cold and severe ice conditions provided a polar-like test environment for the Polaris. "The Bohai Sea is China's only inland sea and the ice-covered sea area with the lowest latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. We chose to conduct the sea trial in the Bohai Sea area to test the Polaris's icebreaking capability and its operating conditions in low-temperature environments. Taking into account the climate characteristics of the Bohai Bay and the accurate short-term weather forecast, after comprehensive research and analysis, we finally decided to set sail on January 17 to conduct the sea trial when the temperature is the lowest and the sea ice is the heaviest in the Bohai Bay," said Professor Cheng Xiao, chief scientist of this voyage. The huge waves and blizzards on January 24, coupled with low temperatures, froze the Polaris with a thick layer of ice, as if it was covered with silver armor. Guided by satellite images, the Polaris headed for the sea area with the heaviest sea ice. The sea ice in Liaodong Bay made a crisp sound of breaking under the crushing of the bow, and the Polaris drew beautiful arcs in the northern seas. On April 21, 2024, the Sun Yat-sen University Polar Research Ship, the first Chinese university research vessel with polar icebreaking capabilities, completed its transformation and upgrade, which will greatly enhance China’s scientific research capabilities in the polar regions. The scientific research equipment on the deck are all newly installed. Through the upgrade, this old ship with a history of more than 40 years has been transformed from a supply ship into a scientific research vessel. The modification and upgrading of the "Sun Yat-sen University Polar" will save about 25% of the cost compared to building a new polar research ship, and the construction period will be shortened from 2 to 3 years to within half a year, so that it can be put into scientific research tasks more quickly. Ji Di was expected to be delivered in 2025, bringing the total number of Chinese research icebreakers to four. The first two icebreakers include Xuelong 1 and Xuelong 2, which China is currently using for missions to replenish supplies in its seven stations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Construction of Ji Di at Guangzhou Shipyard happened concurrently with that of another Polar Class 4 icebreaking research vessel, which is tentatively named Tan Suo San Hao. Its construction began in June and is slightly bigger than Ji Di with a length of 103 meters and a displacement of about 9,200 tons. The vessel will have enough capacity for 80 crew members. JiDi is an icebreaker operated by SYSU [Sun Yat-sen University], possessing world-leading icebreaking capabilities at Ice Class CAC4. The vessel has a length of 78.95 meters and a width of 17.22 meters, with a displacement of 5,852 tons, a draft of 8.16 meters, and a capacity of 60 persons (20 crew members and 40 scientists). The vessel was originally built in the 1980s as an icebreaking anchor-handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) for Beau Drill, the drilling subsidiary of Gulf Canada Resources, and was acquired by SYSU in 2021. SYSU has carried out repairs and conversion works on some of its cabins, and added research equipment and appliances to meet the requirements for cruises in the polar region and scientific explorations. In January 2023, it set out on a voyage to the South China Sea, braving fierce winter winds and waves across the East China Sea, and successfully concluded sea trials in the sea ice area of Bohai Sea, China. "ZHONG SHAN DA XUE JI DI" Icebreaker equipped with various advanced investigation equipment, forming an integrated detection network for the sky?land and sea. it includes atmospheric composition detection, sea air environmental element detection, ocean hydrological parameter measurement, seabed topography and geology measurement, ice zone element detection, etc., meeting with the interdisciplinary research needs of ocean polar hydrology?chemistry?biology and geophysics. The stern A-frame is used together with a geological winch to support comprehensive survey equipment detection operations through ship stern to deployment and recovery, including geological trawls, benthic trawls, gravity column samplers, box samplers, geological grabs, submersibles, buoys, AUV, etc. The CTD winch and A-frame are mainly used for the deployment and recovery of deep water temperature and salinity profile measurement systems, and can also be used to support light equipment operations such as landers and plankton trawls; The folding boom crane is used to support the transfer and lifting needs of ship materials, instruments, and survey equipment on the deck. https://psc.sysu.edu.cn/en/ship/equitment 78.95 M / 259 feet Length Overall CAC4 lce Class 17.22 m Maximum width 9.7 m Moulded depth 5852 t Displacement 3312 t Gross tonnage 15.0 kn Designed maximum speed 60 personnel Ship's complement https://www.google.com/search?q=%E5%8F%8C%E5%B0%BE%E8%9D%8E https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%8F%8C%E5%B0%BE%E8%9D%8ED/62101695 https://web.archive.org/web/20240616144554/https://www.tengden.com/about.html China's large, twin-engine unmanned transport aircraft made its maiden flight from the Zigong Fengming General Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province on 11 August 2024. The test flight lasted approximately 20 minutes, with all systems functioning normally, according to its developer. The aircraft is independently developed by Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co., Ltd., a domestic leading enterprise for intelligent aerial vehicle research, manufacturing and application, and is designed to meet market demand. It has a wingspan of 16.1 meters and a height of 4.6 meters, with cargo space totaling 12 cubic meters and a commercial payload capacity of 2 tonnes. The aircraft has easy loading and unloading features, high reliability and safety levels, and a high degree of intelligence. It is expected to provide support for the country to expand its air cargo transportation scenarios and create a new type of smart logistics in the low-altitude economy and intelligent logistics business models. With the advent of the big data era, cloud computing and big data technologies are accelerating their penetration into the logistics industry, mining new business value through massive logistics data. The logistics battle has gradually evolved into a big data technology battle to a certain extent. With the support of big data technology, people and logistics equipment, and equipment and equipment are more closely integrated, forming a powerful smart logistics system to achieve automation and intelligence in logistics management and logistics operations. It can be said that big data technology is the foundation for building smart logistics. Founded in 2016, Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co.,Ltd. (TENGDEN for short) was funded by domestic large-scale state-owned investment corporations and other institutional investors. As a domestic leading enterprise for intelligent aerial vehicle R&D,manufacturing and its application technology development, TENGDEN mainly works on R&D, manufacturing, test, flight test, delivery, training and operation business of large-scale UAVs. TENGDEN has subsidiary companies including TENGDEN TECHNOLOGY, TENGFENG TECHNOLOGY, TENGYING AVIATION, TENGHANG TECHNOLOGY,with more than 800 employees in total. TENGDEN adheres to the innovation-driven development strategy and aims at the international advanced level; whereas its technical team has cultivated deeply in the large-scale UAV field for a long time. TENGDEN presents the domestic leading level in terms of cutting-edge technology exploration, product indigenous R&D and new application scenario expansion of fixed wing and rotor wing UAVs. Its products are targeted to both domestic and overseas markets, can be widely used for applications such as wide area patrol, emergency communication, meteorological service and freight logistics. TENGDEN is dedicated to providing safe, reliable and highly cost-effective products and system solutions HH-100 A demonstrator of China's HH-100 aerial commercial unmanned transportation system completed a successful maiden flight June 12, 2024, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) announced. The HH-100 demonstrator conducted its first flight at a general aviation airport in Xi'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, said AVIC, the country's leading aircraft manufacturer. HH-100 was independently developed by AVIC XAC Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. in Xi'an, an AVIC subsidiary. It has two major parts, namely an unmanned aerial vehicle and a ground-based command-and-control station. During the flight, the demonstrator produced a stable performance and completed all test flight requirements, with its relevant systems working well, said AVIC. HH-100 is a low-cost, high-payload aircraft. It has a maximum take-off weight of 2,000 kilograms, a payload capacity of 700 kilograms and a full-weight range of 520 kilometers, according to the developer. Its maximum cruise speed is 300 kilometers per hour, and it has a service ceiling of 5,000 meters. It is a cargo-focused aerial vehicle and has the capacity to carry approximately 4 cubic meters of cargo. HH-100 will be capable of serving effective, connected air-ground transportation, according to its developer. In addition to the roles it will serve in regional air logistics, the aircraft will also engage in forest and grassland firefighting work, the delivery of relief materials, emergency relay communication and weather modification. Targeting the booming low-altitude economy, a series of large, intelligent, low-cost and reliable commercial unmanned transportation aerial systems are being planned, AVIC said. Construction of Ji Di at Guangzhou Shipyard happened concurrently with that of another Polar Class 4 icebreaking research vessel, which was tentatively named Tan Suo San Hao. Its construction began in June and is slightly bigger than Ji Di with a length of 103 meters [338 feet] and a displacement of about 9,200 tons. The vessel will have enough capacity for 80 crew members. Construction of China's first deep sea multi-functional scientific research and archaeological vessel officially began in Guangzhou's Nanshan district on 26 June 2023. The vessel which is being built by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co Ltd (GSI), is a new multi-functional scientific research vessel that will be able to conduct deep-sea scientific research and cultural relic archaeology, and can carry out polar sea area investigations in summer, according to statement released by GSI. The new vessel has iconic functions, including unrestricted water navigation; manned deep diving; deep-sea exploration; comprehensive operation support; and heavy safety loads that can help ensure the necessary samples and environmental data for the research of cutting-edge scientific research related to deep sea geology, environment and life sciences. Meanwhile the vessel provides relevant discipline guidance and underwater operation support for deep-sea archaeology, and supporting the offshore testing and application of deep-sea core technology equipment. The vessel will contribute to the scientific exploration and archaeology in deep sea waters and the South China Sea in the months to come, said Zhou Xuhui, Vice-president of GSI, a Shanghai Stock Exchanges listed company. ABB has received an order from the Guangzhou Shipyard International to supply Azipod® DI propulsion system for the new compact icebreaker of China’s Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering. The ship is expected to be delivered in 2025, after which it will begin to carry out operations in the Arctic and Antarctic Ocean. A complete electric propulsion system including two 4.5 MW Azipod® units will drive the vessel through harsh weather and thick first-year ice to enable research on behalf of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The 103-meter vessel will have a maximum speed of 16 knots, draft displacement of about 9,200 tons, and icebreaking capacity of 1.2 meters ice and 20 cm snow at the continuous speed of two knots. The ship is designed to operate both bow first and astern in ice with an enhanced Polar Class 4 (PC4) ice-breaking level. With a capacity of cruising range of 15,000 nautical miles, it can accommodate a crew of 80 people. The new research vessel will be equipped to China Classification Society (CCS) LEVEL 2 notation standards on digitalization and fulfill Underwater Rated Noise SILENT A notation. SILENT A notation covers vessels that are ‘acoustically sensitive’, whose underwater noise emissions are controlled. The criteria are designed to limit high frequency noise, while additionally Azipod® electric propulsion mitigates the practical challenges of reducing low frequency noise and minimizes ecological impact. “ABB has extensive experience and a strong local presence in delivering propulsion products, systems and support we can trust,” said Mr. Guangwei He, Vice Chief Engineer of Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited. “Polar Class vessels represent a growing area of expertise for GSI, and we are delighted to work with a reliable partner whose reference list for proven technology in this demanding segment is unrivalled.” “We are honored to have been chosen to cooperate with GSI again,” said Kerry Yang, Local Division Manager, ABB Marine & Ports China. “This marks the 20th year since ABB Marine & Ports established itself locally in China and we continue to take great pride in localizing our products and services to meet regional requirements in the best possible way.” The propulsion units supplied will represent ABB’s compact Azipod® DI range, which has been developed for both robustness and simplicity, and to offer strength and reliability in the most challenging ice conditions. The Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration has the Xuelong icebreaker to make yearly voyage to the Antarctic waters and specially survey to the Arctic Ocean. The ship has annual cruises to the Antarctic region traversing ocean areas and every two years a track to the Antarctic circumnavigates the Antarctic continent.

Xiangyanghong 10 was China's first Antarctic exploration vessel. Built by China primarily for general oceanic investigation, it was used for only one expedition -- to build the Great Wall Station -- because it was not constructed to sail in Antarctic conditions. It is now called Yuanwang 4 and was used to receive satellite signals. China purchased its first ice going vessel, Jidi, from Finland. A supply, transport vessel it could navigate a field of floating ice but was not an icebreaker. Jidi was decommissioned after six years in service.

Xuelong ( pronounced shway-long, for "Snow Dragon" ) was China's first icebreaker, the re-supply vessel and the scientific research platform of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic research expeditions. It was well equipped with all the advanced systems of self-contained navigation and weather observation which is essential in polar voyages and research expeditions. There are a data processing center, seven laboratories with a total area of 200 square meters and basic operating equipment on board the vessel. It is also provided with three operating boats and a helicopter for transportation and research purposes in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Xuelong was built at the Kherson Shipyard, Ukraine in 1993. The Xue Long is the sister ship of the Vasiliy Golovnin, described as a Vitus Bering Class icebreaker. China spent 31 million yuan (US$3.7 million) to convert it into a transport ship for Antarctic expeditions. Xuelong replaced Jidi in 1994 and has remained in service ever since. Classified as a A2 class ice breaker (capable of breaking ice 1.2 meters thick), Xue Long was originally conceived for cargo transportation in the Arctic. It was purchased by China shortly after its commissioning and modified slightly to turn it into a polar research vessel.

With a length of 167 meters, a beam of 22.6 meters and a draft of 9 meters with 21,250 tons fully loaded, Xue Long is currently the largest ice-breaker operating in Antarctic waters. It is capable of sailing at 17.9 knots in open water, although its normal speed when fully loaded is closer to 13 knots.

China's first North Pole scientific expedition from July 1 to Sept. 9, 1999, aimed to collect scientific resources on the ecological system in the Arctic waters, and the atmosphere, geology, fishing, and marine environment of the area. China launched its second scientific expedition to the North Pole -- Chinese Arctic Expedition CHINARE Two -- on 15 July 2003 from Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province. The modern icebreaker "Snow Dragon", which had made the Arctic journey in 1999, carried 115 scientists from seven countries, including China, the United States and Finland, to the North Pole for a 74-day research expedition.

In 2007 the vessel was extensively upgraded in order to extend its service by another fifteen years. The old forecastle was removed and replaced by a brand new bridge and accommodations. Laboratory space was extended to 200 m2. New winches were put in for marine research, and it was equipped with brand new control, communication, and navigation systems, so that it now boasts one of the best automation systems of any ice breaker. China's largest polar exploration ship "Xuelong" debuted in Shanghai on November 6, 2007 after more than six months of renovation work. The renovation cost over two hundred million yuan or around 27 million US dollars with major overhauls to the vessel's body, apartments, engine and electricity supply system.

China's third Arctic expedition set sail from Shanghai in July 2008, with plans to study the polar region's distinctive maritime resources and air quality. China's third Arctic expedition boarding the ice-breaker "Xuelong" (Snow Dragon) returned to Shanghai at 2:00 p.m. on September 22, 2008. The ice-breaker reached at 85:25:00 degrees north latitude, breaking the record in China's sailing history.

A written comment by Vice Premier Li Keqiang sent to the conference said the polar research, a magnificent feat of the mankind, has great significance for China's oceanic work and sustainable development. "Over the past two decades, China's polar research made great achievements and became influential globally," Li said. Li encouraged Chinese scientists to actively participate in international exchanges and cooperation, safeguard national interests and contribute to the peaceful use of polar regions.

Since the early 1980s, China has sent 27 Antarctic expedition teams and completed four research missions to the Arctic Ocean. Besides the Xuelong icebreaker, China has built three Antarctic stations -- Changcheng (Great Wall), Zhongshan and Kunlun -- and one Arctic station -- Huanghe (Yellow River) Station. The Kunlun station went into operation in early 2009 as the first Chinese research station on Antarctica's inland. The Zhongshan station, established in 1989, now serves as a supply base for the Kunlun station.

Fixed-wing aircraft will also be added to the expedition team before 2015, allowing researchers to be transported between China's Zhongshan and Kunlun research stations and Antarctica's Grove Mountains.

A paper by Anne-Marie Brady of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, detailed how China's scholarly papers and state-controlled media discuss Antarctica in terms that are "virtually taboo" in the West. "Chinese language polar social science discussions are dominated by debates about resources and how China might gain its share," says the paper, "China's Rise in Antarctica?", in the journal Asian Survey. But to date there is no evidence that China was interested in breaching prohibitions on exploring and exploiting minerals in Antarctica.

Australian maritime authorities say a Russian ship that had been locked in thick Antarctic ice since December 24, 2013 was nearing rescue as the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon drew close. The Australian Maritime Authority, which is coordinating the rescue, says the Snow Dragon should reach the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalsky by Friday evening. Two other icebreakers are also headed towards the site. The Russian ship, which was carrying 75 people, including crew, scientists and tourists, became trapped when a blizzard's whipping winds pushed sea ice around the vessel, freezing it in place. Officials say the ship was not in danger of sinking and there are ample supplies for the people on board. The ship, which left New Zealand on November 28, was on a mission to recreate the Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's century-old voyage to Antarctica when it became trapped.

By January 02, 2014 all 52 passengers aboard the Russian research ship stuck in ice for over a week in Antarctica were airlifted to safety, after a rescue helicopter from the Xue Long (Snow Dragon) finally was able to land nearby. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the passengers were evacuated from the Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stranded since Christmas Eve. The passengers - including scientists, tourists, and journalists - were airlifted 12 at a time to the Australian vessel, which they will now take on a weeks-long journey to land.

Chinese icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, rounded off its second tour around Antarctica on 28 February 2016. The 75-day trip of over 18,000 nautical miles was also the research vessel's first counterclockwise voyage around the ice-covered continent. During the tour, Xuelong, which is on its 32nd expedition mission, made a stopover at the Great Wall Station on the King George Island, China's first Antarctic station on the continent, and revisited Chile's Port of Punta Arenas after 16 years.