PLA Navy's only son
The hull color of Chinese naval vessels is based on a very strict system. Normal vessels are usually painted white or light grey. Because of the color of Ship 88, it should be designated as a support ship for training.
There are also several other training ships with hull numbers starting with eight, such as Ship 81 (the Zhenghe Training Ship) and Ship 82 (the Shichang Training Ship).
Military fans guessed that Ship 88 might be the legendary Shilang Training Ship, but the name may not be unveiled until China's first aircraft carrier goes into service.
However, the shape and layout of Ship 88 are different from other training ships, as it looks more likely to be a ship for carrying personnel. Some said that it may be a twin ship of the Yuanwang 6 tracking ship, which can serve other purposes as well.
Mobile castle in the ocean
An unnamed expert revealed that Ship 88 will largely reduce the time and cost of pre-training for aircraft carriers, because the military crew can take breaks on Ship 88 while others receive training on the Varyag.
In the future, the number of personnel serving on China's aircraft carrier will exceed 3,000, so training is very important and will take time. Ship 88 can also function as a perfect place for military crew and engineers to communicate and learn from each other.
According to an article in Military Digest, a Chinese magazine, Ship 88 may take service as a multi-functional support ship which would ensure better living quality for military crew in the future.
At the end of 2010, China sent Missile Frigate Xuzhou to Libya to achieve a successful evacuation mission. In emergency situations, Ship 88 could also perform such missions.
