China Building Huge Test Site For Unmanned Ships
Faizan Hashmi Published February 13, 2018 | 06:00 PM
China has started building the world's largest test site for unmanned ships a technology with both civilian and military applications off a port in the disputed South China Sea, state media said Tuesday
Beijing, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2018 ) :China has started building the world's largest test site for unmanned ships a technology with both civilian and military applications off a port in the disputed South China Sea, state media said Tuesday.
The test area is being constructed off the southern port city of Zhuhai bordering Macau, the state Xinhua news agency said. China asserts sovereignty over almost all the South China Sea despite competing partial claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, and has reclaimed several islands which it controls to bolster its claims.
Unmanned or "autonomous" ship technology, still in its infancy, would allow both civilian and military craft to be remotely controlled. It could revolutionise the shipping industry by creating more cargo space on unmanned ships, which would also save huge sums in labour costs.
As the first of its kind to be built in Asia, Zhuhai's "unmanned boat test site" is expected to become the world's largest with an area of about 770 square kilometres. Islands in the test zone will be equipped with GPS, sonar, communication instruments or photoelectric components to guide ships and boats, according to the China's Science and Technology Daily.
No commissioning date has been announced. "Beijing will use this test site to develop a series of new unmanned systems for military but also for civilian purposes, as this technology can potentially contribute to its economic development," said Collin Koh, specialist in regional naval affairs at Singapore's S.
Rajaratnam school of International Studies. "It symbolises its rise as a world maritime power and is meant to position it in the future market for unmanned ships, whether for civilian or military applications." Various unmanned ship projects already exist in the European Union and the United States.
Norway is expected this year to launch the world's first wholly electrically-powered and autonomous freighter. China is trying to catch up in this field. It plans to launch at the end of the year its own autonomous vessel, the Jindouyun, for river transport and ferrying goods to islands.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
Record London close as oil prices drop on easing Middle East fears
TV tower in Kharkiv struck as Russia captured village
LCCI language courses from May 1
More Stories From World
-
Taiwan hit by dozens of strong aftershocks from deadly quake
7 minutes ago -
Ambassador Hashmi visits Linyi city in Shandong province
27 minutes ago -
Norway women bring seaweed to culinary heights in Europe
36 minutes ago -
Ukrainian agriculture minister suspected in corruption scandal
57 minutes ago -
China issues highest-level rainstorm warning after deadly floods
57 minutes ago -
London stock market hits record high
1 hour ago
-
Five migrants die attempting Channel crossing: French police source
1 hour ago -
Migrant detentions set to begin after parliament passes UK-Rwanda plan
2 hours ago -
China slams US claims it is fuelling Ukraine war
2 hours ago -
More than 50,000 displaced by clashes in northern Ethiopia: UN
2 hours ago -
N. Korea's Kim oversees 'nuclear counterattack' drill
2 hours ago -
Council of Europe calls on UK to scrap Rwanda migrant plan
2 hours ago