China to Begin Building First Domestically-Sourced Icebreaker at End of 2016

China is going to build its first domestically manufactured icebreaker which will be 122.5 meters (400 feet) and be able to break ice of up to 1.5 meters at the end of 2016.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — China will begin construction of its first domestically manufactured icebreaker at the end of 2016, bringing the total number of these vessels to two, local media reported Saturday citing Jiangnan Shipyard Co.

According to the recent information, the length of the new icebreaker will be 122.5 meters (400 feet), it will be able to break ice of up to 1.5 meters thick at a speed of 2-3 knots (4-5.5 mph), China Radio International reported.

At the moment, China has a "Xuelong," or Dragon Snow icebreaker which was purchased from Ukraine in 1993. It has since completed almost 40 research missions.

Jiangnan Shipyard Co said Friday that the construction of the first locally manufactured icebreaker will begin by the end of 2016. In early March, Jiangnan Shipyard Co technical director Hu Keyi stated that the construction of the icebreaker is to begin before the end of April 2016. Hu also noted that the construction budget will be approximately $153 million, and the process will take about two years.

China began to conduct Arctic research expeditions since 1999.