China's new icebreaker project pushes forward
Updated: 2012-07-31 18:53
(Xinhua)
BEIJING - China's first government-backed icebreaker project for polar expeditions officially entered the implementation phase when a basic design contract was signed Tuesday.
The contract was signed by the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA) under the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), the Polar Research Institute of China and the Finland-based Aker Arctic Technology Inc., which will participate in the design of the icebreaker.
The new 8,000-tonne vessel, China's second after the Ukraine-built Xuelong, will have an endurance of 20,000 nautical miles and be capable of breaking ice with a thickness of 1.5 meters, sources with the SOA said.
Moreover, it will be designed to accommodate 90 people and two helicopters, with an overall length of 120 meters, maximum breadth of 22 meters and draught of 8.5 meters.
"With a 580-square-meter lab and a 700-square-meter deck, the ship will provide enough space for scientific research in various fields," said Qu Tanzhou, director of the CAA.
According to the SOA, the new vessel, which will be built in China, is expected to greatly boost the country's expedition capacities in polar and oceanic regions.
Due for operation in 2014, the new icebreaker will join the Xuelong in polar expeditions.
Thanks hmmwv for the diagram.
Diagram of the new ice breaker, designed by a Finnish company.
本报北京7月31日电 我国政府批准建造的第一艘极地科学考察破冰船设计建造工作进入实质性实施阶段。今天上午，中国国家海洋局极地考察办公室、中国极地研究中心、芬兰阿克北极技术有限公司在京签署我国新建极地科学考察破冰船基本设计合同。该船将由中外联合设计、国内建造，有望于2014年底下水，2015年投入使用。
力争打造世界最佳
去年以来，国家海洋局组织开展了该船基本设计的国际招标工作，来自德国、挪威、芬兰的3家公司竞标，最终实力雄厚的芬兰阿克北极技术有限公司脱颖而出。随后，由双方组成的工作组就基本设计合同进行了四轮磋商，最终形成合同文本。
按计划，扩充船舶设计案的任务将在未来210天之内完成。在阿克北极公司完成基本设计之后，国内设计单位和建造船厂将共同参与，就总体设计制定建造实施方案。
“新建科考破冰船是中国加强极地科考的重要举措，是对极地作业强有力的技术支撑，要力争建造一艘世界上最好的极地破冰考察船。”国家海洋局副局长陈连增表示。
“雪龙”不再单兵作战
据介绍，我国新建的极地科学考察破冰船设计载员90人，轻载排水量为8000吨级，船长约120米，最大船宽22.3米，最大航速15节，续航力约2万海里，配有可同时搭载2架直升机的支持系统。该船具有较强的前后双向破冰和动力定位能力，连续破冰速度2至3节，破冰厚度不低于1.5米海冰加0.2米雪。相较以往单向破冰船只，该船倒退式破冰能力又大幅提高了在冰区航行的机动性。
“除破冰能力外，新建极地科考破冰船在实验条件、安全性能、科考设备配置和科考人员生活工作条件等方面，都比‘雪龙’号有了很大改善。”国家海洋局极地考察办公室主任曲探宙告诉记者，由于“雪龙”号是由集装箱货运船改造而成，实验环境、装备条件非常有限，科考活动大多是基于现场取样调查，难以做现场及时分析研究。而新建破冰船集成了现代化破冰船技术和调查船技术，拥有580平方米实验室及700平方米的作业甲板，将为开展海洋环境、海洋地质、生物生态调查提供充足空间。“新建破冰船弥补了‘雪龙’号在现场科考研究方面的不足，在今后开展南北极地区大洋考察方面更具优势。”
如今，仅凭一条“雪龙”号，已难以兼顾科学考察、后勤保障工作需要。此次新建的极地科考破冰船将与现役的“雪龙”号组成极地考察船队，结束“单舰”时代，缓解长期以来制约我国极地科学考察事业发展的瓶颈，极大提升我国在极地海洋区域开展综合考察的能力。
(本文来源：人民网-人民日报海外版 )
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Pole Party
But to their defense, what else are you gonna do to after reaching the northernmost point besides swim a few laps and have a BBQ?
Chinese scientists reach North Pole
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-08/21/c_13455724.htm
ABOARD XUELONG, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese scientists reached the North Pole on Friday afternoon, extending their research on the Arctic Ocean to Earth's northernmost point.
Fourteen Chinese scientists were flown in by helicopter from icebreaker the Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, which carried a Chinese exploration team and reached a point at 88.22 degrees north latitude and 177.20 degrees west longitude.
The Chinese scientists' arrival point marks the Arctic Ocean's furthest north they have ever reached.
The scientists carried out a series of research activities at the Pole, including collecting sea ice and seawater samples and ecological observation.
China's South Pole research station.
No comments:
Post a Comment