Guangzhou Wenchong Ship Factory to build new 10,000-ton cutter for China Maritime Safety Administration.

Guangzhou Wenchong Ship Factory Company from China has announced on April 28, 2020, that the company has awarded a contract to build a new 10,000-ton cutter for China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA).

Drawing of future 10,000-ton cutter for China Maritime Safety Administration. (Picture source China Blog)

The contract was awarded to Guangzhou Wenchong Ship Factory Company on January 8th, 2020, with a finalized design by the 701 Design Institute.

The Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China is a government agency which administers all matters related to maritime and shipping safety, including the supervision of maritime traffic safety and security, prevention of pollution from ships, inspection of ships and offshore facilities, navigational safety measures (including Search and Rescue, Aids to Navigation and the GMDSS), administrative management of port operations, and law enforcement on matters of maritime safety law. It was also responsible for marine accident investigation. It is headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing.

According to information published by the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, the new cutter will have a total length of 165 meters, a width of 20.6 meters, a depth of 9.5 meters, and a displacement of 10,700 tons. Furthermore, it is equipped to support multiple types of helicopters and be able to perform search and rescue missions in rough weather.

When the ship will be entered into service, it will serve as the flagship of the Guangdong MSA Regional HQ. The new cutter could be launched next year.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, a cutter has a single mast rigged fore and aft, carrying a mainsail and at least two headsails. Its traditional hull design, deep and narrow, features a raking transom stern, a vertical stem, and a long bowsprit. In U.S. Coast Guard usage, the term cutter refers to a Coast Guard vessel more than 83 feet (25 meters) long and not classed as an auxiliary vessel.