Sea Pole-class bathyscaphe
| History | |
|---|---|
| People's Liberation Army Navy | |
| Name | Sea Pole |
| Ordered | 2 |
| Awarded | 2 |
| Cost | 180 million ¥ |
| Sponsored by | People's Republic of China |
| Completed | 2008 |
| Acquired | 2009 |
| Commissioned | 2009 |
| Maiden voyage | 2008 |
| In service | 2009 |
| Status | Project ends |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | bathyscaphe |
| Displacement | 24 t in air |
| Length | 8.2 m (27 ft) |
| Beam | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Draft | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Propulsion | electrical |
| Speed | 2.5 kt |
| Range | 12 hr |
| Endurance | 3 x 12 hr |
| Test depth | 7,000 m (23,000 ft) |
| Complement | 3 |
| Sensors & processing systems | sonar & search lights |
The Sea Pole (Hai Ji, or Chinese: 海极) class bathyscaphe is a class of bathyscaphe of the People's Republic of China (PRC). They are capable of diving up to 7,000 meters, covering 99.8% of the oceanic floor of the world. Two units of this class are planned, with derivatives to follow and are used by both the civilian and military establishments in China.