Keep heading north! How strong is the ice breaking ability of Xuelong 2? Snow Dragon | Polar | Ability

At this moment, China's 13th scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean is currently underway. At present, the scientific research team has completed its first sea area operation task in the Chukotchi Sea and is heading towards the Jiake Ridge area located near 85 degrees north latitude to carry out geological and geophysical investigations related to the mid ocean ridge. The climate in the Arctic region is extremely cold, and the ocean is covered with ice all year round. Here, a special equipment for scientific research is indispensable - an icebreaker. The expedition team boarded the "Xuelong 2" polar expedition icebreaker, which was the first domestically built polar expedition icebreaker in China.

How strong is the ice breaking ability of "Snow Dragon 2" as it heads towards the Arctic? As a mobile platform for polar exploration and marine scientific research, what are the unique designs on this ship?

How strong is the ice breaking ability of "Xuelong 2"?

The 13th Chinese Arctic Scientific Expedition Team boarded the "Xuelong 2" polar research icebreaker and officially set sail on July 12th. CCTV reporter Wang Nan also set sail with the ship, recording the entire process of China's Arctic scientific expedition.

CCTV reporter Wang Nan: "Xuelong 2" has a total of 10 floors, including the 1-3 floors for the engine room and equipment area, the 4 floors for the restaurant, boarding hall, laboratory area, and operation area, the 5-9 floors for the living area, and the 10 floors are the highest, serving as the driver's cab. The height of the exposed part of the Snow Dragon 2 is about 40 meters.

It is understood that "Xuelong 2" has a total length of about 122.5 meters, a displacement of nearly 14000 tons, a maximum width of 22.3 meters, and a capacity of 101 people. The Xuelong 2 has a range of over 20000 nautical miles at a speed of 12 nautical miles per hour, approaching twice the distance from the Earth's South Pole to the North Pole.

Strong ice breaking ability and ace "killer mace"

The icebreaker, as the name suggests, is to be able to break through ice and navigate in icy regions. Xuelong 2 can break through 1.5 meters of ice and 0.2 meters of snow continuously at a speed of 2 to 3 nautical miles per hour.

It is worth mentioning that "Snow Dragon 2" also has a trump card "Killer's mace" in ice breaking.

Captain Xiao Zhimin of "Xuelong 2": "Xuelong 2" is the world's first polar exploration icebreaker to achieve bidirectional bow and stern ice breaking. Bidirectional ice breaking greatly improves the maneuverability of ships in ice areas. Even in situations with high density and thick ice, the heading or position can be flexibly adjusted by moving forward or backward. On the one hand, it improves safety and reduces the risk of being trapped. On the other hand, we can better meet the needs of scientific research assignments.

What are the unique designs of "Xuelong 2"?

Besides the superpower of "bidirectional ice breaking", what are the unique designs of "Xuelong 2" as a mobile platform for polar exploration and marine scientific research?

When it comes to polar scientific research capabilities, the "Snow Dragon 2" can be said to be equipped with "eighteen types of weapons".

Firstly, at the bow of the ship, the scientific mast is equipped with a platform of about 2 square meters, which is further forward than the hull. This can minimize the interference of the ship itself on atmospheric scientific observation sampling, improve observation accuracy and sample purity.

At the stern of the ship, there is an open work deck of about 600 square meters, with cranes of different specifications, which can meet the requirements for equipment retrieval and towing operations. Moreover, the 8 standard container slots on the deck can also accommodate mobile container laboratories.

There is a centralized control room for scientific research on the starboard side of the stern, which can be used for centralized control and collaborative operation of scientific research winches, instruments and equipment.

As a scientific research vessel, "Xuelong 2" is also equipped with more than 580 square meters of experimental space, including the first and second general laboratories, physics laboratories, and low-temperature laboratories. The team members can take samples and complete preliminary sample processing and testing here as soon as possible.

From a structural perspective, "Snow Dragon 2" also has a unique design. Under the bow of the ship, there is a box shaped keel structure that ensures that the scientific research equipment installed on the bottom of the ship will not be affected by the bubbles generated by seawater during navigation and the broken ice generated by ice breaking, ensuring equipment safety and more accurate data.

In addition, the "Xuelong 2" is equipped with a helicopter that can search for navigation routes in icy regions, and can also be used for emergency rescue, personnel transportation, long-distance scientific research operations, material lifting and other tasks. In Arctic scientific research, it can also be used to drive polar bears.

What is the "Moon Pool Workshop"? What are the special functions?

On the "Snow Dragon 2", there is a special workshop with a beautiful name called "Moon Pool Workshop". What is the "Moon Pool Workshop"? What is it used for?

Captain Xiao Zhimin of "Xuelong 2": The Moon Pond is a vertical shaft inside the ship, which can directly connect to the seabed. We use it to store or recycle equipment. Why is it called Moon Pool? The diver went underwater through the shaft for work. When he looked up, he saw that the shaft was a very round bright light, like the moon, because the interior of the ship was bright. There is water inside this well, and we look very like a small pool inside the ship, so the name is Moon Pool.

What is the use of Moon Pool? When the polar weather is severe and the waves cause the ship to sway significantly, it is very unsafe to release equipment outside the ship. In addition, in many polar work areas, the sea surface will be covered with ice, which will also bring difficulties to the release of equipment. With Moon Pond, there will be less constraints from meteorological conditions and sea ice, and the time and space for scientific research assignments will be expanded.

How intelligent is Xuelong 2?

The unique design greatly enhances the activity and research capabilities of "Xuelong 2", and in addition, its intelligence level is also very high, making it a very "smart" scientific research ship.

CCTV reporter Wang Nan: The intelligence of "Xuelong 2" can be said to be reflected in every aspect of the ship, including intelligent hull, intelligent engine room, intelligent laboratory, and so on.

On board, almost all important equipment is equipped with sensors, which can achieve comprehensive intelligent perception, acquisition, exchange, and display of information throughout the ship. Once a malfunction or abnormality occurs, the information will be immediately fed back to the comprehensive alarm platform in the driver's cab, and the driver's cab will notify the responsible person for handling according to the actual situation.

In the cockpit, not only can the status of the entire ship be monitored, but also sea ice distribution maps, radar maps, route maps, etc. are all available. With the cooperation of computer technology, automatic control technology, and data processing and analysis technology, intelligent operation of ships and scientific research can be achieved.

Captain Xiao Zhimin of "Xuelong 2": Most of the inspection equipment on board is remotely operated, which can improve the safety of operators and does not require outdoor operations under harsh sea conditions or weather conditions. On the other hand, operators can bring the remote control to observe the operation status of the equipment from multiple angles and positions, which can also ensure the safe operation of the equipment.

What are the special devices for the "Green" scientific expedition "Snow Dragon 2"?

In addition to its high level of intelligence, the "Xuelong 2" is also a "green" polar scientific research icebreaker. It can effectively protect the polar environment. What special devices are there in this regard?

In addition to meeting the pollution prevention requirements in the latest polar regulations, the exhaust pipes of the ship's generator sets are equipped with special devices to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, which is superior to the strictest environmental requirements of the International Maritime Organization.

In addition, as it is sailing in polar regions, the entire ship of "Xuelong 2" adopts a cold and warm design, and the temperature inside the cabin is maintained above 20 degrees Celsius. The ship is also equipped with advanced fully rotating pods and side thrusters, which can withstand strong winds of 12 levels and sea conditions with wave heights of over 5 meters. Under the action of anti roll tank, it can ensure smooth navigation of the ship in adverse sea conditions.