Asia’s largest and most advanced dredging vessel – Tian Kun Hao – returned to Qidong City in East China’s Jiangsu Province on Tuesday, after completing its first sea trial.
The cutter suction 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.
Commenting the latest news, Wang Jian, deputy chief engineer of the vessel’s investor, Tianjin Dredging Co., a subsidiary of China Communication Construction Co ., said: “ The sea trial was challenging yet successful. The power and propelling systems of the ship withstood the test of the sea.”
During the four-day trial, the vessel’s navigational aids such as the radar and gyro-compass were also tested. More than 120 staff, including vessel crew and engineers, were on board, according to Xinhua.
The self-propelled vessel, launched in November 2017 in Qidong, East China’s Jiangsu Province, is 140 meters long, has a width of 27.8 meters and is able to operate in depths of between 6 and 35 meters.
The Tian Kun Hao is larger and has greater capability than the Tian Jing Hao, formerly the largest cutter suction dredger in Asia.
The vessel is expected to be delivered to Tianjin Dredging Co. in August.