From 16 to 21 March Krylov State Research Centre (KSRC) received a delegation of Chinese shipbuilders including Director General of China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) He Chunrong and representatives of six design units of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). KSRC says the purpose of this visit was to discuss the subjects of co-operation in commercial shipbuilding.
The Chinese colleagues were introduced to the capabilities offered by unique experimental facilities of the Krylov Centre. The guests witnessed model hydrodynamic experiments in the Deep-Water Towing Tank.
In connection with China’s plans to build a research icebreaker the Chinese experts were particularly interested in ice research studies. The visitors were explained a wide range of ice modelling capabilities offered by Krylov’s Ice Basin. CSSRC representatives shared their plans to erect a similar ice model basin for propulsion & maneuvering investigations of ice-class ships.
The guests from China showed practical interest to the training & research simulator complex of Krylov Centre used to model ship navigation in various environments including ice-infested waters. In particular, the head of Chinese delegation He Chunrong was keen to explore opportunities for co-operation in using simulator facilities for research purposes as well as for training Asian ship operators.
Russian companies boast over 50 years of experience in design, construction and operation of ice-going vessels, while China is just taking off the ground. For this reason China’s shipbuilders are so eager to learn more about Russian research studies and believe that there is a great potential for co-operation between our two countries in construction of icebreakers and ice-class ships. In the wrap-up discussions the Chinese experts and Krylov scientists have formulated some prospective lines of further collaboration.
In his interview to the Chinese news agency Xinhua Denis Manturov, Russia’s Minister of Industry & Trade, has emphasized the industrial focus of bilateral relations with China. Shipbuilding is one of the promising fields for co-operation between Russia and China. In the recent years Chinese shipbuilders have shown keen interest to Arctic technologies.