Schottel to propel new Chinese ice-breaker

The Haixun 156, which will perform a wide range of tasks, has recently been launched by the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, Hubei Province, China. It was ordered by the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration and is scheduled to enter operation in September 2021.

The main propulsion comprises a pair of diesel-driven Schottel EcoPellers type SRE 460 (1,800 kW each) featuring a four-bladed propeller with a diameter of 2.4 metres. The addition of a Schottel TransverseThruster type STT 1 (500 kW) means the Haixun 156 can reach a free sailing speed of 14.5 knots.

The azimuth thrusters of Haixun 156 are ice-strengthened to Chinese ice class CCS 2 (corresponding to Finnish-Swedish ice class 1B) enabling the vessel to break through ice as thick as 0.6 metres.

With a length of 74.9 metres and a width of 14.3 metres, the vessel has a displacement of 2,400 tonnes and will be used for setting up, removing, swapping and maintaining navigation aid facilities at ports and on navigation routes in north China.