According to deputy director of the polar research office at the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Weng Lixin, the design and the program of constructing China’s second icebreaker is running according to schedule, therefore it could be in use in 2014, ChinaOrg reports.
The cruising capacity of the vessel is 20,000 nautical miles, with a top speed of 15 knots. The icebreaker has the ability of breaking 1.5 meters thick ice and can work in water for two months.
Apart from being a moving scientific platform in upcoming polar research missions, it will also be used for transporting supplies to some Antarctic stations.
China already disposes of one A-2 class icebreaker of 1.2-meter icebreaking capacity, better known as the “Snow Dragon” or Xuelong.
[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, April 9, 2012