On July 11, the Chinese mainland's smart training ship Xin Hong Zhuan set sail from Dalian, Liaoning Province, embarking on a landmark 4,000-nautical-mile voyage. Over roughly 30 days, the expedition will call at six public-access ports, blending maritime teaching with cutting-edge intelligent navigation experiments.
Built by Dalian Maritime University and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, the 69.8-meter-long vessel features six fully domestically developed intelligent systems. Its semi-enclosed bow and stern can deploy unmanned boats, drones, and research equipment, paving the way for deeper ocean science and hands-on training.
Sun Feng, head of R&D at Dalian COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry, explains: "Simply input the destination port at the console, and the ship can autonomously complete the voyage." Onboard perception sensors enable real-time judgments and course adjustments based on traffic flows and environmental data.
Key trials will tackle busy waterways like Xinhai Port near Haikou and the narrow, shifting channels of Yangpu Port. Here, the vessel will test autonomous collision avoidance, dynamic route planning, and high-precision maneuvering under complex conditions.
COSCO Shipping provided two intelligent products: an advanced weather routing system and electronic chart navigation equipment. Zhang Anming, general manager of COSCO Shipping (Guangzhou), notes that "from hardware chips to software algorithms, everything is independently controllable, reaching internationally leading levels." These systems aim to boost safety, efficiency, and data security at sea.
Earlier trials by the unmanned ships collaborative innovation institute at Dalian Maritime University achieved autonomous passage through a narrow channel, real-time route adjustment, and reliable collision avoidance, says Wang Guofeng, the institute’s executive director. The upcoming long-range voyage will stress-test these capabilities across diverse maritime environments.
As the global shipping industry moves toward automation, Xin Hong Zhuan’s mission offers a glimpse of the future: smarter, safer, and more efficient sea routes driven by homegrown innovation.
Reference(s):
China's smart training ship sets sail for navigation experiment
cgtn.com
