Xiamen University (XMU) is building an advanced general-purpose research vessel equipped with state-of-the-art science mission instruments to serve the interdisciplinary oceanographic cruises conducted in global oceans.
Glosten, a world renowned US naval architect company did the concept and preliminary design of this vessel; the detail design was completed by Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC) in Shanghai, and it is built by Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited (GSI). As the owner, XMU will own the overall intellectual property of this vessel’s design.
The building of this new vessel was officially started at GSI on March 31st 2015. On May 8th 2016, the launching ceremony was held at the shipyard, and the new vessel was named as ‘Tan Kah Kee’, in memory of the great founding father of XMU, Mr. Tan Kah Kee. This research vessel will carry dreams of all ‘XMUers’ and certainly carry forward Tan Kah Kee’s Spirit.
‘Tan Kah Kee’ will not only be the first oceangoing vessel in XMU history, but also will be one of the main vessels for Chinese deep sea research in the coming decades.
After the launch, vessel outfitting, equipment commissioning, docking tests and sea trials have begun, the vessel is expected to be delivered to XMU at the end of 2016.
Specifications of the vessel:
Ø Overall length (Loa): 77.7m;
Ø Beam (B): 16.24m;
Ø Draft (T):5.2 m;
Ø Cruise speed (Ve): 11 knots;
Ø Designed maximum speed (Vmax): 14 knots;
Ø Range: 10000 nautical miles;
Ø Endurance: 50 days.