From August 15 to 16, the largest deep-sea sea-lane surveying ship in China’s maritime safety system, “Haixun 08”, opened to public at Wuhaogou terminal in Shanghai. Over a thousand citizens enthusiastically boarded the ship for a close-up look at this “great national implement”. The open-day event not only served as a vivid example of public science outreach but also allowed the public to gain a deeper appreciation of China’s technological strength in deep-sea operations and the progress made in maritime safety support.
On site, visitors followed a carefully planned route to observe key areas such as the bridge and survey workrooms. Through immersive experiences with shipboard facilities and equipment, they gained a systematic understanding of the importance of maritime safety operations. Staff provided professional and detailed scientific explanations, intuitive real-world demonstrations, and interactive exchanges, making complex topics—such as maritime surveying equipment as well as case studies of port and waterway surveying—accessible to all. This effectively sparked public interest, particularly among young people, in maritime safety and built a smooth communication bridge between maritime authorities and the public.
“Haixun 08” was officially commissioned into the East China Sea Navigational Guarantee Center of the Ministry of Transport on September 21, 2023. With unrestricted navigation capability, the ship is 123.6 meters long and 21.2 meters wide and has a maximum speed of 16 knots. It can safely navigate in Sea State 9, conduct stable drifting surveys in Sea State 5, and perform high-precision underway surveying operations in Sea State 4. As China’s first sea-lane surveying ship designed with a quieting concept, it effectively reduces interference from underwater noise on measurement accuracy through optimized hull structure and power systems.
As the largest, most advanced and most comprehensive deep-sea surveying ship in China’s maritime safety system, the commissioning of “Haixun 08” has filled the gap in our hydrographic capabilities in waters beyond 3,000 meters. It plays an indispensable role in safeguarding national maritime rights and interests, ensuring the safety of strategic maritime passages, as well as supporting the development of marine resources.
Source from: China Transportation News Network