Oil spill recovery vessel launched

A specialized oil spill recovery vessel Haixun 041, built by Wuhan-based Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltd, was launched at its Shuangliu Shipbuilding Base in Wuhan, Hubei province last week.

This marked the largest oil spill recovery vessel with the largest design size and the strongest oil spill recovery capability in China's maritime system, according to the group.

With a length of 79 meters, a width of 15 meters, and a depth of 5.6 meters, the Haixun 041 can achieve a maximum speed of 15 nautical miles (27.78 kilometers) per hour.

Its endurance mileage can reach 3,000 nautical miles and fresh water and food can be maintained for 20 days at sea.

The vessel is fully electric-propelled and equipped with a set of built-in oil recovery devices on the left and right sides, capable of recovering 200 cubic meters of oil per hour.

Its cabin is equipped with an oil recovery tank, and the deck is equipped with an inflatable oil boom, a light oil boom and an oil dispersing agent spraying device.

The oil recovery system is highly integrated, convenient and fast, and can meet the emergency response requirements of oil spill containment, recovery, storage, transfer and elimination.

The vessel also has high level of informatization, which can realize the integration, display, storage, communication, transmission, output and printing of emergency auxiliary decision information via the monitoring and detection of oil spill status, collection of water area information, and expansion and integration of ship-shore information resources.

Equipped with an emergency command and dispatch system, and data interaction system, the vessel can achieve accurate positioning and rapid response through satellite, 4G, 5G and other communication means, and can become the on-site emergency command center for organizing and coordinating the disposal of major oil spill accidents.

It can safely navigate and conduct operations in rough seas.

The construction of Haixun 041 began on June 30 last year.

The group organized an experienced design and construction team, implementing a series of advanced construction techniques such as simulated platform loading, structured outfitting, and forward process movement to effectively enhance construction efficiency.

They took less than seven months to successfully complete critical tasks such as ship design, segmented construction, platform assembly, equipment acceptance and itemized inspections.

According to the group, all 70 compartments of the vessel have completed pressure testing and will conduct comprehensive interior outfitting and mooring trials.

The vessel is expected to be put into service after five months of installation and testing, in June.

It will be primarily deployed in the Beidaihe sea area off Hebei province, serving as an integrated maritime emergency command platform with functions for oil spill recovery, emergency standby, and comprehensive command.

This vessel will provide strong support for accelerating the construction of a strong maritime country and protecting the marine ecological environment, the group said.