Xue Long 2

Xue Long 2 (simplified Chinese: 雪龙2; traditional Chinese: 雪龍2; pinyin: Xuě Lóng 2; lit. 'Snow Dragon 2') is a Chinese icebreaking research vessel that entered service in 2019. She follows the naming of Xue Long, China's first polar research vessel.^[3]

Xue Long 2 at Victoria Harbour in 2024
History
China
Name	Xue Long 2 (simplified Chinese: 雪龙2; traditional Chinese: 雪龍2; pinyin: Xuě Lóng 2)
Owner	Polar Research Institute of China
Port of registry	Shanghai, China
Builder	Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai, China
Yard number	H2650
Launched	10 September 2018[1]
Completed	11 July 2019
Identification	IMO number: 9829241
Status	In service
General characteristics [2]
Type	Research vessel
Displacement	14,300 tons
Length	122.5 m (402 ft)
Beam	22.3 m (73 ft)
Draught	7.9 m (26 ft) (design) 8.3 m (27 ft) (maximum)
Depth	11.8 m (39 ft)
Ice class	Polar Class 3
Installed power	2 × Wärtsilä 12V32 2 × Wärtsilä 8L32
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; two ABB Azipod units (2 × 7.5 MW) Two bow thrusters
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (1 engine) 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) (2 engines) 2–3 knots (3.7–5.6 km/h; 2.3–3.5 mph) in 1.5 m (4.9 ft) ice
Capacity	90 crew and scientists
Aviation facilities	Helideck and hangar

History

The 5 million euro^[4] design contract for China's first domestically-built polar research vessel was signed in 2012 with the Finnish engineering company Aker Arctic, though construction did not begin until December 2016.^[3] She was built at Jiangnan Shipyard.^[3]

Xue Long 2 now in service both as a supply vessel for China's research facilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and as a research vessel, with capabilities for geological and biological experimentation and surveying.^[5]

On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard spotted Xue Long 2 about 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, 130 nautical miles inside the U.S.'s extended continental shelf.^[6]

Design

Xue Long 2 measures 122.5 metres (402 ft) long, with a beam of 22.3 metres (73 ft) and a draft of 8.3 metres (27 ft) at full load.^[5] She has a displacement of 14,300 tonnes.^[5] She has a diesel-electric propulsion system, with two 8-cylinder and two 12-cylinder engines, both Wärtsilä 32-series designs,^[7] powering two 7.5 MW Azipod propulsion units that give her a speed of up to 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) when breaking 1.5-metre (4.9 ft) ice.^[5][8] Her ice class is Polar Class 3 and she is able to break ice while traveling either ahead or astern.^[5]