China has taken a significant leap in marine technology with the launch of the “Blue Whale,” a pioneering high-speed submersible unmanned surface vessel. The vessel was unveiled on Monday in Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province.
The “Blue Whale” represents a major advancement in intelligent ocean equipment. Designed to operate both above and below water, it can reach surface speeds of up to 36 knots. Remarkably, it can dive to avoid extreme weather conditions like typhoons and remain submerged in static suspension for over a month, according to Zhuhai Yunzhou, one of its co-developers.
This versatile vessel is equipped to handle rapid responses to emergencies and is capable of various applications including meteorology, underwater mapping, photography, water sampling, and infrastructure inspections like submarine cable maintenance.
“The ‘Blue Whale’ can deploy meteorological rockets and sensors near typhoon epicenters to gather critical atmospheric and oceanic data,” said Wu Guosong, the chief engineer of the submersible vessel project at Zhuhai Yunzhou.
Chen Dake, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, hailed the launch as a “milestone in China’s independent innovation in marine science,” emphasizing its significance in advancing ocean exploration and supporting national strategic objectives.
Construction of the engineering model began earlier this year, involving pressure-resistant welding, hull assembly, and equipment installation. The final stages, including internal debugging, mooring trials, and further sea tests, are scheduled for completion before the vessel’s anticipated operational debut in 2026.
