The Tiankun, the largest and most advanced cutter suction dredger (CSD) in Asia, was launched today in Qidong, East China’s Jiangsu Province.
The dredger, built for China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC), was designed by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard as well as the China Merchants Industry, and was constructed by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries.
The self-propelled vessel is 140 meters long, has a width of 27.8 meters and is able to operate in depths of between 6 and 35 meters.
Wang Jian, President Assistant at the CCC Tianjin Dredging Group, said that this vessel represents a landmark as China’s first independently developed heavy-duty self-propelled cutter suction dredger.
The Tiankun is larger and has greater capability than the Tianjing, formerly the largest cutter-suction dredger in Asia.
The dredger will now begin sea trials, expecting to go into operation during the first half of 2018.