In the brilliant constellation of China’s shipbuilding industry, there is a dazzling star – “Tian Kun”. This vessel, hailed as the “national treasure”, is the largest and most advanced heavy self-propelled cutter suction dredger in Asia. It is not only the pinnacle of China’s dredging equipment manufacturing technology, but also an important symbol of the enhancement of the country’s comprehensive national strength.
The “Tian Kun” is remarkable for its huge size and outstanding performance. The entire ship is 140 meters long and 27.8 meters wide, with a full-load displacement of 17,000 tons. Its scale is comparable to that of a small aircraft carrier. The maximum digging depth of this ship can reach 35 meters, and its total installed power is as high as 25,843 kilowatts. The designed dredging volume per hour is an astonishing 6,000 cubic meters. What is particularly noteworthy is that the绞刀 power of the “Tian Kun” reaches 6，600 kilowatts， which enables it to easily excavate rocks with a single-side compressive strength of 50 megapascals， demonstrating its powerful excavation capability. In addition, the “Tian Kun” vessel is equipped with an internationally advanced intelligent integrated control system for self-propelled cutter suction vessels. It can automatically adjust the cross-stroke speed of the cutter to adapt to changes in sediment concentration, ensuring both construction efficiency and quality. Its remote transportation capacity has reached 15,000 meters, the world’s largest, giving the “Tian Kun” vessel unparalleled advantages in port dredging, channel construction and other fields.
Since it was launched, the “Tian Kun” has played a significant role in numerous major projects both at home and abroad. In China, it has participated in key projects such as the 100,000-ton-class waterway extension project in the Gan Yu Port of Lianyungang, demonstrating the strong capabilities of China’s dredging industry. On the international market, the “Tian Kun” also made its first entry into the international high-end dredging market. It carried out operations at the Abu Dhabi Port in the United Arab Emirates, supporting the construction of the Huddaliyat Island dredging and reclamation project by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, marking a new milestone for China’s dredging equipment to go global.
