The first offshore test field for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in Asia will be constructed in waters around the Wanshan Archipelago starting with the world's first light unmanned vessel developed by Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligence Technology (Yunzhou-Tech).

The project stems from cooperation between the China Classification Society (CCS), Zhuhai government, Wuhan University of Technology, and Yunzhou-Tech. The connections were stipulated in a memorandum of cooperation signed during Marintec China 2017 held in Shanghai on Dec 6.

Named Flip-Over Cloud (Jindouyun in Chinese), the first-of-its-kind autonomous cargo vessel has a hull length of 50 m and planned tonnage of 500 tons. An electric propulsion system was designed for zero-emission cruising and allows a range of up to 500 nautical miles. Core technologies including modular design enables the ship to automatically berth or unberth at ports as well as execute other orders with complete autonomy -- a key requirement of unmanned shipping, according to a designer. All parameters will strictly accord with inspection specifications demanded by the CCS.

Artist's conception of the Yunzhou unmanned cargo vessel

Compared with large ocean ships, such vessels can be designed, built, and tested in a relatively short time. The new craft will be used in inland shipping and island resupply.

A breakthrough targeting the broad global market gap, it will be tested at the end of this year and launched in early 2019, the company announced.

Proceeding simultaneously will be the Wanshan offshore USV test field, the second of its kind in the world after one in Norway.

According to a project head, the test field will be part of an industrial platform in Zhuhai supporting research and evaluation. It will include a testing ground, automatic mooring terminals, communications, and network security infrastructure. After it is completed, multi-scene and multi-dimensional tests of USVs of various types will be possible through data programming. 

Designed shipping routes

Yunzhou-Tech USV Technology Harbor, China's first R&D, test and industrial incubation site for USVs, is being built on the coast of Tangjiawan. It will highlight the test field's industry-college-institute character by providing R&D support of USVs, marine intelligent equipment testing, and incubation of further innovative projects. The company expects it to be operational in mid-2018.

Vice Mayor Lu Xiaofeng attended the signing ceremony.

Rendering of shipping control center [Photos provided by Yunzhou-Tech]