China's first independently developed, multifunctional unmanned survey boat was launched in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, on Aug 22. The boat, developed by CCCC Shanghai Dredging Co Ltd and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, marks a significant advancement in China's dredging industry, filling the gap for domestically developed autonomous survey vessels.

Utilizing an all-electric propulsion system and a double-body, deep V-type hull design, the ship boasts intelligent features and green credentials. Its advanced navigation system enables autonomous obstacle avoidance, allowing for independent operation across diverse working environments.

The survey vessel is equipped for tasks such as channel dredging and island and shoreline mapping, deploying a wide range of surveying equipment.

According to Yang Zhi, Party secretary of Dahua Technology, a subsidiary of CCCC Shanghai Dredging, the vessel will be deployed for dredging surveys on projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative, significantly improving the efficiency and data quality of survey operations.

Source: Shanghai Observer