Asia's largest cutter suction dredger (CSD), Tian Kun, has been launched at Qidong, in east China's Jiangsu province.
Constructed by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, the self-propelled vessel is 140 metres long, has a width of 27.8 metres and can operate in depths from six metres and 35 metres.
Built for China Communications Construction (CCCC), the CSD was designed by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Guangzhou Wenchong shipyard and the China Merchants Industry.
President Assistant at the CCC Tianjin Dredging Group, Wang Jian, said Tian Kun was China's first independently developed, heavy-duty, self-propelled CSD.
Tian Kun is larger and has greater capability than the Tianjing, formerly the largest CSD in Asia, said Wang.
The dredger will begin sea trials and is expected to start operations in the first half of 2018.
