China's first dual-use semi-submersible put into operation

China's first semi-submersible ship for both civil and military functions was put into use on Tuesday in Qidong, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo: news.ifeng.com]

After more than two years in the making, China's first semi-submersible vessel for both civil and military use came into operation on Tuesday in Qidong, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The three-island semi-submersible ship, known as Zhenhua-33 and developed by the Qidong branch of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., is 227 meters long, with a lifting force of 50,000 tonnes and a draught of 27 meters while semi-submerged.

Experts examine the semi-submersible vessel Zhenhua-33. [Photo: news.ifeng.com]

Its main deck covers 7,700 square meters and has a navigational speed of 14 knots. The ship has a range of 18,000 nautical miles, making cruising and working at high seas possible, reports military.cnr.cn.

"Zhenhua-33 is the biggest civil ship in China to date that can be used for military purposes. Like an aircraft carrier, it can be used at sea for loading, shipping, unloading and repair." says Huang Hao, an official from a joint logistics support center in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.

The launching and naming ceremony for the Zhenhua-33 was held on June 18th, 2016 in Qidong, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo: news.ifeng.com]

This semi-submersible ship makes use of state of the art technology and levels of automation. Only China and The Netherlands currently have the ability to independently design and build such a vessel, reports military.cnr.cn.

The cargo platform of Zhenhua-33 is as big as two standard football pitches, which is able to hold large steel equipment and offshore drilling platforms, as well as carrying a helicopter.

The launching and naming ceremony for the Zhenhua-33 was held on June 18th, 2016 in Qidong, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo: news.ifeng.com]

A semi-submersible ship can submerge most of its structure, maneuver beneath another floating vessel, and then de-ballast to pick up the other vessel as cargo.