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7/18/2025, 9:46:23 PM
China Media Group and China Central Television reported that the Tongji, China's first intelligent ocean-class scientific research vessel, was formally delivered in Shanghai on Sunday. Designed for both scientific research and offshore engineering support, Tongji University will operate the new vessel.
A division of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company Limited, designed and built the ship entirely with Chinese engineers. Construction started in April 2024, and in May, extensive sea trials were successfully finished.
Tongji Research Vessel
Tongji is a cutting-edge, environmentally friendly, silent, and intelligent all-purpose research vessel designed for engineering support, teaching, and marine science research. Tongji University uses it as a floating “offshore campus” to support student training, marine engineering projects, and scholarly research.
Notably, Li Zhenghua, the vessel's chief technologist and
designer, claims that Tongji is 82 metres long, 15 metres wide, and 6.9 metres deep. Up to 45 people, including 30 researchers and 15 crew members, can fit inside. The ship can travel 8,000 nautical miles at its top speed of 15 knots, or more than 27 kilometres per hour. It has a maximum of 35 days at sea to conduct autonomous operations.
With its Chinese-developed all-electric propulsion system, the ship can navigate in any area, except for areas covered by ice. The China Classification Society has classified it as the country's first scientific research vessel, with the i-ship (R1, No, E, I) intelligent ship classification. Moreover, this classification includes features like an intelligent integration platform, shore-based remote control, autonomous navigation, and smart energy management.
At the Maritime Training Academy UK, you will learn about intelligent ocean-level research vessels, various oceanographic disciplines, marine engineering tasks, and train future scientists. Its intelligent systems facilitate efficient operations and data collection for various kinds of research objectives.
Research Proficiency in the Marine Sciences
The ship has 10.2 square metres of living space per person, 320 square metres of laboratory space, and a 460-square-metre deck operation area. Additionally, it has over 100 square metres of useful space, including lecture halls, conference rooms, and areas for relaxation and exercise.
Modular laboratories on the Tongji ship enable various kinds of container labs to be loaded according to particular scientific objectives. Research in the fields of marine geology, marine chemistry, marine biology, and atmospheric environment is supported by these labs.
In addition to conducting research, the ship can perform marine
engineering tasks like installing and maintaining submarine cables. Its integrated communication system facilitates seamless coordination between the ship and land, as well as between unmanned scientific research equipment in underwater, sea, and air environments.
Tongji, which combines scientific exploration, engineering operations, science education, and cultural heritage promotion, is now the top research platform in the East China Sea, according to a statement from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company officials. Additionally, student internships will use it to provide future marine science professionals with hands-on training.
Despite being constructed on a 2,000-tonne platform, the ship's optimised spatial design allows it to function at the level of a 3,000-tonne research vessel. Its efficiency sets it apart from earlier research vessels.
Eventually, the statement asserts that Tongji has achieved top-tier standards in terms of research capability, intelligent operation, and environmental friendliness, as demonstrated by a number of performance indicators.
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