The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday.
The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning.
At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas.
Photo courtesy of CSBC Corp
The X-rudder, named for its four diagonally configured fins, is a control system that delivers superior maneuverability, stealth and operational efficiency.
In response to media queries for comment on the Mirror Daily report, Navy Command Headquarte yesterday said the prototype’s testing was aimed at identifying issues and resolving them through system improvements and fine-tuning.
The Hai Kun can be operated in fully automatic, semi-automatic or fully manual modes, headquarters said, adding the handling of the mechanical failure on June 26 was in line with protocol and well within safety parameters.
The issues were addressed after the boat returned to port and have not recurred since that incident, it added.
Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Chiu Chun-jung (邱俊榮) during a press conference on Wednesday said that development for the Hai Kun project was at least two months behind schedule.
The submarine has been moved to the CSBC Corp shipyard in Kaohsiung as of Friday last week to undergo final calibration and equipment checks before diving and surfacing tests, Chiu said.
The navy is keeping a close eye on the submarine’s status and is subjecting the vessel to rigorous tests before green-lighting the submarine’s diving and surfacing tests, he said.
CSBC is being fined for each day late the boat is delivered, beginning last month, with the total penalty deducted from the final payout, Chiu said, adding that the project is progressing and that everyone working on it is doing their best.
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