Sattahip-
On Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, at 2:00 PM, Chonburi Governor Mr. Thawatchai Srithong, accompanied by Ms. Praphatsara Srithong, President of the Chonburi Red Cross, along with government officials, Red Cross committee members, and relevant personnel, visited the Chinese polar research icebreaker “Xuelong 2” at Juk Samet Port in Sattahip. The visit marked the vessel’s first official trip to Thailand from May 19-23, 2025, in celebration of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.
The “Xuelong 2,” China’s fourth polar research vessel, is the world’s first icebreaker capable of breaking ice while moving both forward and backward. It can navigate through ice up to 1.5 meters thick at a speed of 2-3 knots and handle ice over 10 meters thick when reversing. Measuring 122.5 meters in length, 22.3 meters in width, with a draft of 12 meters and a displacement of 13,990 tons, the vessel comprises 10 decks equipped with facilities such as a recreation room, meeting room, small hospital, library, helicopter landing pad, and advanced research laboratories for geology, oceanography, and meteorology.
Automated systems on the bridge deck collect data on weather, wind, and dust. The ship can accommodate 90 passengers and supports missions including polar research by scientists from the Polar Research Institute of China and operations at China’s polar stations.
Each year, starting in late November, “Xuelong 2” departs from Shanghai, heading south to pick up researchers in Australia or New Zealand before proceeding to Antarctica for operations, concluding in May. In 2025, after completing its latest mission, the vessel visited Thailand before returning to Shanghai.
The visit is part of the long-standing vision of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who has stressed the importance of polar research. This led to Thailand’s first academic cooperation agreement with China on polar science in 2013. The arrival of “Xuelong 2” in Thailand, facilitated by the Polar Research Institute of China, honors Her Royal Highness’s 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic ties, fostering continued collaboration in scientific exploration.
