China unveils tech behind first rocket recovery ship

China's first rocket recovery ship, the Linghangzhe, or Pathfinder, features advanced technologies and robust functions, its designers said.

The vessel is a non-self-propelled flat-top barge that was refitted by designers and engineers from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, China State Shipbuilding Corp's Guangzhou Shipyard International and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering.

The feasibility study for the vessel's refitting was launched in September 2024, and the conceptual design was finalized in December that year. Construction commenced in April 2025, and the vessel was named and delivered that December.

The ship measures 144 meters in length, 50 meters in beam width, with a draft of 5.5 meters. It has a full-load displacement of 25,000 metric tons and a DP2-level dynamic positioning capability.

He Guangwei, chief designer of the Linghangzhe and deputy chief engineer of Guangzhou Shipyard International, said the design and construction of the vessel presented multiple technical challenges.

As the vessel must maintain a highly synchronized position with the returning rocket during recovery operations, parameters such as roll, pitch and yaw — which receive little attention in conventional ship design — were subject to far stricter requirements.

He said the positioning accuracy of its dynamic positioning system must meet performance standards across all wave directions.

In terms of the hull's structural design, conventional ships are typically engineered for uniformly distributed loads across the deck. By contrast, the cable-net recovery platform is mounted on the deck using four large support pedestals, creating highly concentrated loads that present a major challenge to engineers.

Meanwhile, the cable-net recovery system features a tall truss structure with heavy mass and a high center of gravity, which also posed significant challenges for ship stability design.

"From the earliest design phase, engineers had to conduct load analyses under various sea conditions, wind tunnel tests, and outrigger and sponson design work. Engineers from both the space and shipbuilding sectors overcame these obstacles and successfully delivered this reliable recovery platform," said He.

Xu Xuelei from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology explained that the Linghangzhe's dynamic positioning system can be controlled remotely. Operators can input latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates from 10 to 20 kilometers away and the vessel will automatically hold its position at the target point.

Xu said that the rocket capture tower on board stands 67 meters tall, with a structural self-weight of 3,500 tons. With all onboard equipment included, its total weight reaches 5,400 tons. The entire tower structure is connected to the hull via four sets of large support pedestals.

Sponsons are installed at the four corners of the tower. When the vessel heels slightly, these sponsons submerge and generate extra buoyancy, which helps to significantly reduce the overall roll angle of the vessel, Xu added.