Image source: topwar.ru
The state Television of the People's Republic of China CCTV reported on the successful tests of the semi-submersible heavy transport ship of the Chinese Navy Yinmahu. This vessel is designed to transport equipment and warships, including damaged ones, and can be used as a repair dock. Some details about the testing of the new PLA vessel are told by the South China Morning Post.
During the test cruise, the ship passed 1,000 nautical miles, loading, transporting and unloading other vessels and successfully completing a number of maneuvers. The report emphasizes that Yinmahu has proven itself perfectly, including in stormy weather in conditions "close to real combat."
This is the first public demonstration of a ship of this class. In total, there are two such vessels in the Chinese Navy. It is known that the first heavy-weight vessel Donghaidao (tail number 868) entered service in 2015.
These transport vessels can carry ships with a displacement of more than 100,000 tons. The ship, at the expense of ballast, submerges its cargo deck in such a way as to take on board another vessel, after which the ballast is drained. The unloading also takes place in the same way.
Over the past two decades, China has built a large semi-submersible heavy-duty civilian fleet. It includes several vessels with a carrying capacity of 30,000 to 60,000 tons, according to Business Insider.
In 2016, the Chinese firm COSCO Shipping commissioned the world's second largest cargo ship Xinguanghua, capable of taking on board cargo up to 100,000 tons. This vessel is second only to the Dutch Vanguard with a displacement of 110,000 tons. Its deck can dive to a depth of 31 meters, which allows it to carry the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, which has a displacement of 60,000 tons and a draft of 10 meters.
