China is planning to deploy a manned submarine to explore the seabed of the polar regions as part of its growing ambitions in the Arctic.
The 704 Research Institute, part of the China Shipbuilding State Corporation, announced that the submarine is designed to be released through a hole in the hull of the Tham Sách-3 Polar Research Vessel.
The developer reported a series of tests, including underwater docking and operations in low-temperature conditions, but has not disclosed many details about the vessel.
China’s Tham Sách-3 polar research vessel. (Photo: SCMP).
The report further stated that China used to rely on foreign technology but has now developed its own systems, “which can be widely used in the future for polar scientific research, exploration, and extraction of deep-sea oil and gas resources, construction and maintenance of subsea pipelines, as well as search and rescue operations.”
Polar research vessels face operational limitations due to the presence of drifting ice, making the deployment of submarines a potential solution, though the harsh conditions pose significant technological challenges.
So far, only Russia has successfully sent a manned vessel to the seabed of the Arctic during the Arktika mission in 2007. This means China could become the second country to achieve this.
The 704 Research Institute has also designed a suite of equipment for the mother ship to support deep-sea research, including a 10,000-meter winch system along with deployment and recovery systems for the submarine.
The Tham Sách-3 was built in Guangzhou, southern China, with the core mission of utilizing domestically produced equipment for scientific exploration.
The project began in June 2023, and the vessel set sail in April this year. It is expected to become operational and start sea trials next year.
China positions itself as a “near-Arctic” power and is strengthening its fleet of polar exploration vessels. They have constructed several icebreakers, the latest being the Jidi (Polar) which can break through ice up to 1 meter thick and made its first voyage to the Arctic last August.
Last month, Wu Gang, the designer of the first domestically produced icebreaker named Tuyết Long-2, revealed that China is also developing another icebreaker capable of handling ice thicker than 2 meters.
Icebreakers allow China to operate year-round in polar environments.
The United States has expressed concerns about China’s increasing presence in the Arctic and is working to enhance its shipbuilding capabilities. The U.S. Coast Guard is constructing several heavy icebreakers.
Earlier this year, the U.S., Canada, and Finland announced a collaborative project to develop vessels for polar operations, including icebreakers.
