Chinese oceanographic research ship Zhang Jian

Chinese oceanographic research ship Zhang Jian is a Chinese research ship designed by Shanghai Ocean University and built by the civilian owned Zhejiang TianShi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (浙江天时造船有限公司) in Wenling, instead of government-owned enterprise, as in most cases of the ships in Chinese service.[1]

History
China
Name	Zhang Jian
Namesake	Zhang Jian
Ordered	2013
Builder	Zhejiang TianShi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Laid down	April 18, 2015
Launched	March 1, 2016
Completed	May 30, 2016
Acquired	June 30, 2016
Commissioned	1930
In service	2016
Identification	IMO number: 9781671 MMSI number: 413379250 Callsign: BIBY6
General characteristics
Type	Research vessel
Displacement	4,800 long tons (4,900 t)
Length	97 m (318 ft)
Beam	17.8 m (58 ft)
Draught	5.65 m (18.5 ft)
Propulsion	2,600 hp (1,900 kW) from 2 coal-burning steam turbines
Speed	12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Range	15000 nm
Complement	60

Chinese research ship Zhang Jian is the newest research ship in China (as of 2015), and it is designed to have an endurance of 60 days before needing resupply. The ship is designed to be a multifunction ship capable of carrying out various missions that previously had to be performed by separate ships. The ship primarily functions as an oceanographic research ship, buyt it can also act as a dive tender, a salvage ship, a rescue ship, a tourist ship, and a mother ship for a deep-submergence vehicle.[2][1] The ship will be used as a mother ship for a Rainbowfish class bathyscaphe.

The ship also carries other equipment for deep sea exploration, including an UUV and three benthic landers. Designed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA, 沈阳自动化研究所) of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the three benthic landers were originally to be capable of operating at the depth of 11000 meters.[3] To avoid delays, this goal was modified with reduced requirements for the first benthic lander, which would use foreign components purchased abroad and have a maximum operational depth of 7000 meters.[4] The 11000 meter operational depth of the original specification will be met by the second and third units. These will use completely indigenous components; development was to be completed in 2015.[3] The first benthic lander begun sea trials in October 2014.[5]