China State Shipbuilding Corp started assembling China’s first self-developed icebreaker at a shipyard in Shanghai, which is expected to start its first scientific expedition to the Antarctica next year.
At a building berth of the Jiangnan Shipyard, Xuelong 2 – Snow Dragon 2 – will be built by connecting sections.
Through computer modelling, the hull will be divided into 114 sections that will then be assembled into 11 parts and joined together, stern to bow and bottom to top.
After that, the icebreaker will be painted and equipped with scientific expedition equipment at the berth.
According to the schedule, Snow Dragon 2 will leave the berth in August after procedures such as interior decoration, equipment and system adjustment and mooring experimentation.
It is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2019 to team up with the country’s sole current icebreaker, Xuelong, to conduct scientific research missions in polar areas.
The newly built vessel will considerably improve performance in icy zones, as it can break ice using either its bow or stern.
It will be the world’s first icebreaker for scientific exploration in polar areas to use two-way icebreaking technology.
The ship will be able to break ice 1.5m thick and endure temperatures of -30C. It has good mobility and incorporates strict environmental protection measures.
It can quickly change direction in icy zones, greatly improving safety in the complicated conditions of Antarctic offshore areas.
The basic design of Snow Dragon 2 is Finnish, but detail design, production design and reviews were performed by domestic institutions and companies.
“The project is not simply purchasing the designs and drawings from foreign companies this time,” Wu Gang, chief designer of Snow Dragon 2, said.
In building China’s first domestically built icebreaker, “it’s a road we’ve never taken before. So we decided to work with a partner to ensure a smooth run.”
The State Council said in 2015 that the icebreaker project was “collaboratively designed by domestic and foreign experts, but independently built at home”.
China owns the intellectual property rights of Snow Dragon 2, according to Wu.
This article was originally produced and published by China Daily. View the original article at chinadaily.com.cn