China to develop new heavy icebreaker for ‘Polar Silk Road’
- Design to be finished by 2025, ministry says, while ‘significant breakthroughs’ also expected in building huge salvage ship
- The vessels will be used to support the country’s expanding maritime activities
China plans to develop a new heavy icebreaker and semi-submersible heavy lift ships – so big that they can carry other ships – in the next five years to support its expanding maritime activities.
In addition, it said “significant breakthroughs” in construction of a semi-submersible salvage ship – a huge vessel with displacement of 100,000 tonnes – were also expected in that period.
A three-year target has been set for the design to be completed on another semi-submersible salvage ship that could be used for deep-sea lifting of up to 5,000 tonnes.
The new vessels are part of China’s latest five-year development blueprint decided earlier this year. It includes goals on deep-ocean and polar exploration, specialist vessels such as those to support deep-sea operations and the heavy icebreakers, and a plan to develop offshore floating nuclear power stations.
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Chinese cargo ships sail along Arctic routes as Beijing plans ‘Polar Silk Road’