VESSEL REVIEW | Pulong – New cable protection vessel for China’s inland waters

China’s Hunan Xiang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry has delivered a cable protection vessel to local customer State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company.

Named Pulong, the vessel will be tasked with protection and maintenance of submarine cables in the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River estuary. It will also have a secondary patrol function, ensuring the integrity of the cable lines crossing the rivers within its area of responsibility.

The newbuild has a steel hull, an aluminium superstructure, an LOA of 35.5 metres, a moulded beam of seven metres, a depth of 2.7 metres, and a design draught of 1.4 metres. Two lithium-ion batteries with a total output of 945 kWh deliver a maximum speed of 11.8 knots. A full charge of the batteries will allow the vessel to sail up to 60 kilometres – equivalent to an endurance of four hours – at eight knots.

A 280kW generator is used to charge the batteries and to supply power while the vessel is at berth. The generator may also serve as a backup propulsion system if the vessel needs to continue sailing with its battery power nearly depleted. If the generator is used simultaneously with the batteries, the vessel will be able to sail for up to 75 hours at eight knots.

Pulong was built in compliance to China Classification Society rules.

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