A new semi-submersible vessel the size of an aircraft carrier capable of transporting ships weighing up to 10,000 tons has entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as a naval auxiliary.

Zhen Hua 33 is classified as a self-propelled semi-submersible transportation and float-over installation vessel. Owned by ZPMC-OTL Marine Contractor Ltd. (ZOMC), Zhen Hua 33 was launched at ZPMC's Nantong fabrication facility in June 2016.

The 50,000 ton ship is China's first 50,000-ton military dual-use semi-submersible vessel. It entered military service in Qidong City, in Jiangsu Province on March 14. Zhen Hua 33 is the largest civilian ship enrolled into the PLAN.

It can be used for berthing ships over 10,000 tons; transporting damaged warships and can serve as a military relay support ship carrying helicopters.

The semi-submersible vessel comes with a large steel structure; an offshore drilling platform and a large cargo platform area, which is equivalent to two standard football fields.

The design and manufacture of Zhen Hua 33 took two years and three months, said Huang Hao, a deputy director of the People's Liberation Army Wuxi Joint Logistic Support Center.

With a free deck area is 185 meters x 43 meters, Zhen Hua 33 is the longest vessel in its class and was constructed with a reinforced stern. It has a total length of 227 meters.

It's also equipped to submerge 13.5 meters for loading and discharge of deeper draft drilling rigs and floating production facilities. The ship has a main deck area of 7,700 square meters and its semi-submersible draught is 27 meters.

Its Kongsberg DP-II system is fully integrated with two tunnel thrusters at the bow and three fully-revolving main azimuth thrusters at the stern. With 19,000 kW of power, can travel at up to 14 knots.

ZOMC is a strategic joint venture between ZPMC Offshore Services Group and OffshoreTech LLC.