- Hundred-ton autonomous boat completes 2,271 nautical mile round trip
- Milestone test highlights progress in offshore autonomous navigation
China’s first fully domestically developed hundred-ton unmanned vessel has completed a record-setting long-distance autonomous voyage, underscoring advances in the country’s offshore navigation and marine technology capabilities, Chinese media reported on April 30.
The vessel, code-named 6081 and developed by state-run manufacturer Zhejiang Artiking Corporation (浙江省二轻集团), sailed round trip from Zhoushan in eastern Zhejiang to Sanya, a tourist heaven in southernmost Hainan, covering 2,271.7 nautical miles.
The journey marked China’s first ultra-long-distance autonomous navigation by an unmanned vessel in open waters.
The trip, which supported a naval-led demonstration of unmanned swarm systems, lasted 248 hours, with autonomous operation accounting for 96.57% of total sailing time.
According to domestic media, the vessel navigated through rough seas, dense fog, low-visibility night conditions and congested shipping lanes, maintaining precise routing and stable system performance.
Core onboard systems—including intelligent navigation assistance, engine room management and energy control—were all developed in-house by Artiking.
The navigation system functions as a decision-making hub, enabling obstacle avoidance and route optimization, while the energy management system dynamically allocates power to sustain long-duration missions under complex conditions.
The test demonstrates the technical feasibility and reliability of long-range autonomous operations for large unmanned vessels, laying groundwork for broader deployment in maritime transport, scientific research and emergency response, according to the developer.
