Jidi icebreaker enhances China's ice-area scientific research system

The delivery of China's new icebreaking research vessel Jidi represents an advancement in the nation's comprehensive polar research capabilities, substantially improving its overall ice-area scientific research system, according to the ship's designer.

The vessel, whose name means polar region, was delivered in Guangzhou City of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday.

It was domestically designed and manufactured by Guangzhou Shipyard International Company under China State Shipbuilding Corporation and is expected to conduct scientific research missions in the second half of 2024, according to the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

When navigating polar waters, icebreakers encounter two primary types of ice: first-year ice or multi-year ice, based on its age and thickness. Normally, the maximum thickness of an ice layer can reach more than three meters and present a formidable obstacle in terms of its strength.

This Jidi vessel is rated Polar Class (PC) 6 in terms of its ice-breaking capacity, with the highest rating being PC 7. Its bow is designed to break first-year ice that is 0.8 to one meter thick.

"When operating at full propulsion power, the ship can break through one-meter-thick first-year ice at a speed of two knots," explained Cai Ruimou, the chief designer of the icebreaker from China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

This speed translates to about 3.7 kilometers per hour, which is the pace at which the ship can advance while breaking ice. During the ice-breaking process, the ship's bow endures concentrated loads, and ice is shattered either by the ship's weight or high impact force. As a result, the hulls of icebreakers are generally short and wide, with a larger bow, giving them a somewhat "cute" appearance, a trait that the Jidi icebreaker shares.

Although the Jidi icebreaker may not appear overly large, its chief designer has highlighted that the vessel embodies the design philosophy of "small yet refined, elegant and distinctive." 

In its design and construction, it has fully incorporated lessons learned from China's previously built icebreakers, Xuelong and Xuelong 2, with the original intention of accommodating a variety of scientific missions, he added.

"With the successful delivery of the ship, China has independently developed a comprehensive and dependable scientific research platform, addressing high, medium, and low ice-breaking requirements. This signifies a significant stride towards more comprehensive and diversified scientific research capabilities across the polar region," Cai said.

After the Jidi icebreaker is delivered, it will be equipped with a range of geophysical survey equipment, enabling it to conduct comprehensive investigations and observations of the atmosphere, sea ice, water bodies, and the geophysical environment

The research ship is also equipped with systems that enhance the ship's flexibility in sailing, berthing, and conducting scientific research, allowing for seamless speed adjustments between zero and maximum speed.

Additionally, it is fitted with an anti-rolling system, and the indoor noise level is controlled to meet the highest standards, meaning that the maximum noise level does not exceed 55 decibels, or just above conversational levels of sound.

"The vessel will carry advanced equipment including drones, unmanned surface vessels, and underwater autonomous robots. Leveraging China's independent satellite network system, the ship is designed to possess integrated scientific research capabilities across various domains -- space, sea, ice, and underwater. This enables the vessel to simultaneously undertake multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientific missions, encompassing the atmosphere, sea ice, water bodies, and geophysics. The inaugural mission of this ship is slated for the second half of 2024," said Jiang Zhijian, the vessel's project manager.

Jidi icebreaker enhances China's ice-area scientific research system

The signed article of Chinese President Xi Jinping published in the mainstream Peruvian media Thursday received positive reactions from the country's residents who spoke highly of China's economic achievements and its people-centered policies.

The signed article was published under the title "China-Peru Friendship: Setting Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future" in the Peruvian media outlet El Peruano and shared the Chinese leader's vision for a new era of China-Latin America relations.

Currently, Xi is on a state visit to Peru, where he will also attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

After reading the article in El Peruano, 86-year-old retiree Jobino Villacorta, said he admires the economic achievements China has made and is excited about the ever-closer ties between the two countries.

"Today, an important article was published in El Peruano about the visit of China's president to our country. I admire China for its vast achievements and resilience in becoming the world's second-largest economy. Everything written here is very important, and I'm happy China and Peru are having a partnership and culturally we are united," he said.

In his article, President Xi said the inauguration of China-backed Chancay Port will lead China, Peru and Latin America to common development and prosperity, a commitment that resonates with the local people.

"I'm really excited for example about the project that is in Chancay, because I have many friends from that place. As the President mentioned, here says, the most important [thing] is to give the best for the people, and I think that your president is doing that," said Carlos Rosas De La Cruz, a local resident.

President Xi and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte attended the inauguration ceremony of the Chancay Port via video on Thursday local time.

China and Peru enjoy a long history of friendship, which is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, said Xi in a written statement upon his arrival in Lima Thursday.

The multiple fruitful results from bilateral cooperation are helping improve lives of people on both sides, said the Chinese president.

China has been Peru's largest trading partner and largest export market for 10 years in a row, and steady progress has been made on major cooperation projects in fields such as mining and infrastructure, bringing tangible benefits to people of the two countries, Xi said.

President Xi's signed article receives positive reactions from Peruvians