Shanghai: China's first ocean-level intelligent scientific research vessel, Tongji, was delivered on Sunday, marking a significant enhancement in the marine research capabilities of China's prestigious universities.
According to Emirates News Agency, the vessel, named Tongji, was constructed by China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company Limited for Tongji University, based in Shanghai. The construction began in April 2024, and the vessel successfully completed its comprehensive sea trials in May.
Tongji will serve multiple purposes, including scientific research voyages, offshore engineering construction tasks, and student internships in Tongji University's marine discipline and other departments. The vessel aims to provide equipment support for marine scientific research and the cultivation of marine-related professionals, as stated by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company Limited.
The vessel becomes China's leading scientific research platform in the East China Sea, capable of conducting scientific research and providing engineering support, according to the company's statement. Li Zhenghua, the vessel's chief designer, described Tongji as a multi-functional "maritime campus" that integrates scientific research, talent cultivation, popular science education, and cultural inheritance in marine geology, chemistry, biology, and related scientific investigations.
"It represents the new generation of 2,000-ton green, silent, and intelligent comprehensive scientific research vessels independently designed and constructed by domestic companies," Li said. Tongji measures 81.5 meters long, 15 meters wide, and has a depth of 6.9 meters. It can accommodate 45 people, including 30 scientists, and reach a speed of 15 knots, equivalent to more than 27 kilometers an hour.
The vessel has a range of 80,000 nautical miles and can sustain operations independently for up to 35 days. By optimizing the layout, Tongji has achieved a deck operating area of 460 square meters, a laboratory area of 320 square meters, a per capita living cabin of 10.2 square meters, and more than 100 square meters of functional cabins, including conference areas, lecture halls, leisure, and fitness areas. This achieves the operational capacity of a 3,000-ton scientific research vessel within a relatively small volume.
Tongji features a domestically produced full-turn electric propulsion system and is suitable for unlimited navigation areas, except for ice regions. It is the first scientific research vessel in China to obtain the i-ship (R1, No, E, I) intelligent symbols of the China Classification Society intelligent ship standard. This includes shore-based remote control, autonomous navigation in open waters, intelligent energy efficiency management, and an intelligent integration platform.
"Tongji is equipped with multiple advanced labs and all-weather operational capabilities, and multiple performance indicators have shown that Tongji has reached the world's leading level," Li concluded.
