Type 645 oceanographic research ship


Type 645 oceanographic research ship is an oceanographic ship developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy and other Chinese civilian establishments. A total of three were completed, with one in PLAN and the rest in civilian service.
Type 645 was an experimental program of the Fourth five-year plan of China and designed by the 2nd Directorate of 708th Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which is also more commonly known as nowadays. Construction begun in October 1977 and the ship was launched in October 1978, entering service with PLAN in December 1978. There are a total of twelve laboratories on board totaling 257 square meters. Deployment proved that the design was successful, and two more units were built for civilian use, named as Xiangyanghong 14 and Xiangyanghong 16 respectively. However, on May 2, 1993, Xiangyanghong 16 was rammed and sunk by a Cypriot cargo ship more than nine time of its size in the East China Sea, with the loss of three crew members. The hull of Type 645 is used for Type 813 spy ship. The name of the unit in PLAN service is Nan-Diao 350, meaning South Investigate 350. In 2006, the ship went through an 11-month-long refit to be converted by of China Shipping Group at Shanghai as the mother ship of Jiaolong. After conversion, the name of the ship reverted to its original name Xiangyanghong 9. Some oceanographic research capability is retained after the conversion in that three laboratories were retained on board. The homeport of Xiangyanghong 9 is in Qingdao. Two additional ships, Xiangyanghong 14 and Xiangyanghong 16 were also built but both went to civilian service, and latter sunk on May 2, 1993 after being hit by a 38000-ton Cypriot LNG carrier near Jeju Island. Specification:
TypePennant #BuilderLaid downCommissionedStatusFleet
645Nan-Diao 350Hudong-Zhonghua ShipbuildingOctober 1977December 1978ActiveSouth Sea Fleet