China’s Twin Polar Icebreakers Complete Full Maintenance Works and Depart Jiangnan Shipyard

According to CCTV News and China Daily Online reports, Xuelong and Xuelong 2, China’s two core polar research icebreakers, have recently undergone synchronous maintenance and overhaul works at facilities operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation. All scheduled service procedures have now been fully completed, with both vessels casting off and sailing away from Jiangnan Shipyard’s berths.

Every maintenance task carried out on the two icebreakers is tailored to satisfy operational demands of upcoming polar research voyages. Work undertaken aboard Xuelong centres on routine servicing of its power generation system and comprehensive inspection of underwater scientific survey apparatus. 

The refit schedule for Xuelong 2 targets structural repairs to corroded sections on its twin podded propulsion units, full replacement of anti-corrosion sacrificial zinc anodes, remediation of damaged hull plating on forward icebreaking zones, and full reapplication of specialised ice-resistant protective paint across affected underwater surfaces. 

Teams also deliver in-depth servicing across the full spectrum of on-board assets, covering all scientific monitoring instruments, dedicated laboratory flooring facilities, marine generators, main propulsion engines, fuel pumps and interconnected piping networks.

Regarded as China’s twin flagship vessels for polar scientific expeditions, Xuelong and Xuelong 2 operate for extended stretches in extreme sub-zero polar ice zones under sustained heavy operational loads. Constant impact and compressive force from sea ice inflict accelerated wear on hull frames, thrust systems and ice-strengthened structural components, meaning technical standards for sealing, ice resistance and anti-corrosion treatment sit far above the specifications applied to standard commercial seagoing vessels.

All completed overhaul and repair works upgrade the two icebreakers’ resilience against the varied, harsh ice conditions encountered across Arctic and Antarctic waters. Refurbished propulsion, hull and research systems deliver consistent operational stability to support seamless delivery of successive polar scientific research programmes in the months ahead.

Jiangnan Shipyard’s engineering teams follow strict polar marine technical specifications throughout all dockside maintenance phases, with full performance testing conducted on every restored piece of equipment prior to the vessels’ departure. Both icebreakers will carry out integrated oceanic, glaciological and atmospheric observation missions after leaving the shipyard, gathering field data to expand global understanding of polar environmental change.