South China Sea: Beijing’s new research ship expected to explore contested waters

Electric-powered vessel can operate for 60 days straight and will carry out scientific monitoring in ‘distant seas’, according to reports

Survey ships play major role in asserting China’s claims in disputes with Southeast Asian neighbours

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Xiang Yang Hong 05 was launched on Friday in Wuhan, Hubei province. Photo: Weibo

Published: 9:01pm, 23 May 2023

China has reportedly launched a 3,000-tonne (3,307-ton) research and survey ship that is expected to be used in the South China Sea, where tensions have flared between Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbours.

The converted cargo ship, named Xiang Yang Hong 05, entered the water on Friday at a Wuhan shipyard owned by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, an affiliate of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Changjiang Daily reported.

The ship’s conversion was commissioned by the South China Sea survey centre of the State Oceanic Administration.

The 85.6-metre (281-foot) electric-powered research vessel can operate for 60 days without resupply, according to the Wuhan-based newspaper.

The report added that the ship would mostly be used for oceanographic surveys and monitoring of the marine environment, and its exploration and investigation capabilities would support China’s “comprehensive scientific research in distant seas”.

Yu Liangxiong, the ship’s designer, said the Xiang Yang Hong 05 was equipped with tools to do geological surveys of the ocean as well as systems for collecting samples, conducting high-resolution seismic surveys, gathering data on marine environments and analysing the survey data.