China launched on Monday in Zhuhai, in Guangdong province, the “blue whale”, a high-speed submersible non-manned surface vessel capable of operating above and below the water.
The project, developed by Zhuhai Yunzhou, represents an important advance in marine technology in the country. The vessel can reach 36 nodes on the surface and, in case of extreme conditions such as typhoons, dive and remain submerged in static suspension for more than a month.
Its versatility allows applications in different areas, such as rapidly response to emergencies, underwater mapping, photography, water sampling and submarine cable inspections. Wu Guosong, the project’s chief engineer, stressed that the Blue Whale is able to launch rockets and meteorological sensors near the typhoons epicenter, providing critical data for atmospheric and oceanic research.
For Chen Dake, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the launch is a “milestone” for Independent Innovation in Marine Science, reinforcing China’s strategic role in the exploration of the oceans.
The construction of the blue whale began in June 2024 and involved advanced processes such as pressure resistant welding, hull assembly and installation of intelligent systems. The final open sea testing phases should be completed by 2026, when the equipment will officially enter operation.
The launch of the blue whale reflects the growing Chinese bet on state -of -the -art maritime technologies, focused on both scientific exploration and ocean safety and monitoring.
Source: https://www.chinahoje.net/china-lanca-embarcacao-inteligente-capaz-de-operar-submersa-e-enfrentar-tufoes/
