China's first heavy icebreaker, new intelligence revealed!
Recently, Wu Gang, a Chinese ship design master and chief expert of the 708 Research Institute under China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, introduced that the research and design work of China's first heavy icebreaker is being steadily promoted by the 708 Institute. Once put into use, the ship can perform long-term missions in the Arctic and Antarctic and reach places that were previously inaccessible. China is comprehensively strengthening the construction of polar scientific research, shipping, security and governance capabilities, and will focus on the systematic development of icebreakers in the "light medium heavy" direction in the future.
It is reported that compared with existing models, heavy-duty icebreakers will have stronger ice breaking and resistance to extreme cold, and they can break through ice with a thickness of more than 2 meters; The ship will also be highly intelligent and environmentally friendly, using green fuel and leaving no pollutants during polar operations; The main components of the heavy icebreaker, including the engine, will be manufactured by Chinese enterprises.
25 years, light to medium
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) categorizes the ice breaking capabilities of icebreakers into seven levels, ranging from PC1 to PC7. Overall, PC1 and PC2 are heavy-duty, with a thickness of over 2 meters for ice breaking; PC3, PC4, and PC5 are medium-sized, with a typical ice breaking thickness of 1-1.5 meters; PC6 and PC7 belong to the light level, with an ice breaking thickness of less than 1 meter.
So far, there are three icebreakers in China that truly possess comprehensive polar scientific research capabilities, namely the "Xuelong", the first independently built polar scientific research icebreaker "Xuelong 2", and China's independently developed new generation icebreaker "Polar". Among them, the "Xuelong" and "Polar" are light icebreakers, and the icebreaking capability of the "Xuelong 2" is PC3, which is the highest level among medium-sized ships.
From 1994 to 2019, it took us 25 years to achieve a leap in ice breaking ability from 1 meter to 1.5 meters. The 0.5 meter gap mentioned by Wu Gang is actually the "skill" gap between the "Snow Dragon" (PC6) and the "Snow Dragon 2" (PC3).
We cannot underestimate this 0.5 meter distance. When it reaches a certain level, the requirement for icebreaking ability is a 'qualitative' leap. In the icy and snowy world south of latitude 75 degrees and below minus 20 degrees Celsius, facing the frozen polar sea surface, only by relying on the strong power and hard hull of icebreakers can scientific researchers and equipment be transported to designated locations
How long does it take to 'take down' the top of the pyramid?
Wu Gang responded that it took 25 years to develop from PC6 to PC3; From PC3 to PC2, PC1, I believe this time will be shortened, but it is still a long-term project.
It is reported that strong ice breaking capabilities require the ship's hull to continuously crush hard ice surfaces, which requires both a sturdy structure, a high-strength corrosion-resistant hull, strong power, and reliable thrusters. We need to solve many technical problems including power, propulsion, cold resistance, high-strength steel, outer coating, green environmental protection, intelligent navigation, etc. We also need to equip high-precision navigation systems, strengthen equipment efficiency, and carry out integrated construction of polar situational awareness and observation networks, "said Wu Gang.
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