VESSEL REVIEW | Haiyang Dizhi No 26 – Geological and reef research vessel for Chinese science organisation

China Geological Survey, a sub-agency under the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources, recently took delivery of a new locally built research vessel to be operated by its Haikou Marine Geological Survey Centre.

Haiyang Dizhi No 26 (海洋地质二十六号; "Marine Geology No 26") is one of the first multi-functional scientific research vessels in China to be deployed for comprehensive geological survey and research involving reefs.

Long range and enhanced manoeuvrability

The vessel has an LOA of 63.5 metres (208 feet), a beam of 12.6 metres (41.3 feet), a draught of 3.2 metres (10 feet), a depth of 4.6 metres (15 feet), a displacement of 1,713 tonnes at full load, and space for 34 crewmembers and research personnel. The vessel can stay out at sea for a maximum of 35 days.

The propulsion consists of two main engines with a total output of 2,426 kW (3,253 hp) that drive propellers housed in azimuthing thrusters to deliver a range of 3,500 nautical miles. The azimuthing thrusters provide enhanced manoeuvrability while a bow thruster works in conjunction with a DP1 system to ensure accurate station keeping. This latter capability helps guarantee more accurate data gathering in offshore waters under a range of current and weather conditions.

A multi-disciplinary research platform

The vessel boasts 32 geological survey equipment modules including those used for drilling, static cone penetration, geophysical surveys, and mineral surveys. This allows the embarked scientists to conduct more comprehensive surveys of reefs as well as other types of investigation and research in support of offshore engineering projects.

As a research vessel, Haiyang Dizhi No 26 features a number of electronics for undersea data gathering. These include single-beam and multi-beam echosounders, an acoustic current Doppler profiler, and equipment collection of seismic data.

Haiyang Dizhi No 26 was built over a span of 21 months by Fujian Hengsheng Shipbuilding Heavy Industry in compliance with China Classification Society rules. The vessel's initial operational deployment will be in the South China Sea off Hainan province, where it will carry out geological surveys of reefs to contribute to the protection of the reefs themselves and to the development of China's island structures in the region.