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''Xuě Lóng'' (; literally ''Snow Dragon'') is a Chinese icebreaking research vessel. Built in 1993 at Kherson Shipyard in Ukraine, she was converted from an Arctic cargo ship to a polar research and re-supply vessel by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding of Shanghai by the mid-90s. The vessel was extensively upgraded in 2007 and was expected to go through another upgrade in 2013, but it is not known if the latter refit was carried out. , ''Xuě Lóng'' is the only Chinese icebreaking research ship in service. A second Chinese polar icebreaker, slightly smaller but more capable than ''Xuě Lóng'', is currently at the design stage and is expected to enter service in 2016.〔(China to build new icebreaker for polar research expeditions ). NDTV, 5 January 2014. 〕〔(New icebreaker planned by 2016: officials ). Chinadaily.com.cn, 6 January 2014. 〕 == Description == Built at the Kherson Shipyard in Ukraine and completed on 25 March 1993, ''Xuě Lóng'' started her life as a Project 10621 icebreaking cargo and supply ship designed for the Russian Arctic.〔(Alltför svåra isförhållanden för de tillgängliga fartygen ). Sjöfarts Tidningen, 4 January 2014. 〕〔(List of ships designed by "Chernomorsudoproject" S.A. since 1955 ). Chernomorsudoproject S.A. 〕 She was purchased by the People's Republic of China and converted to a polar research and re-supply vessel in 1994.〔 Note that the author is mistaken about the name: "Snow Dragon" is the ''translation'' of "Xue Long", not a former name of the ship.〕 In 2007, the ship was extensively upgraded to extend her service life by another 15 years. During the mid-life refit, the ship received a new superstructure that considerably changed her external appearance.〔(Chinese Antarctic Expedition: Xue Long (Snow Dragon) ). International Polar Foundation, 14 November 2008. 〕 She received another technical update in 2013 which included replacing her main engine.〔(New icebreaker to improve China’s polar research ). The 4th Media, 4 November 2011. 〕 ''Xuě Lóng'' is long and has a beam of . When loaded to a draft of , she has a displacement of 21,025 tons. The ship was originally powered by a single〔 8-cylinder BMZ 8DKRN60/195 low-speed two-stroke diesel engine, a licence-built version of B&W 8L60MC, producing . During the 2013 refit, the main engine was replaced with an equally powered Wärtsilä 6RT-flex60C diesel engine.〔 The main engine is coupled to a ducted controllable-pitch propeller.〔(La Chine s'intéresse à l'Arctique et à l'Antarctique — Textes Gilles Barnichon & Françoise Massard / Photos Agence Adhemar ).〕 In open water, ''Xuě Lóng'' can achieve a maximum speed of while in ice she can proceed at . Her ice class, assigned by the China Classification Society (CCS), is B1.〔(A Brief Introduction of R/V Xuelong ). Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration. 〕 ''Xuě Lóng'' has a crew of 34 and can accommodate 128 researchers or passengers. She has of laboratory space. In addition to a Kamov Ka-32 "Xueying" (Snow Eagle) helicopter, the ship also carries an Arctic class ARV autonomous underwater vehicle on a regular basis. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「MV Xue Long」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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