On April 21, reporters learned from Dalian Maritime University in China that the university, in collaboration with relevant units, has successfully developed the world's first full-ocean depth trace metal CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth profiler) winch system, "Haiwei CTD11000". The "Haiwei CTD11000" features an active heave compensation function, is entirely domestically produced, independently controllable, with a maximum working depth of 11,000 meters, enabling scientific research operations across the full ocean depth and all sea areas.
Recently, the winch system completed a deep-sea operational demonstration application onboard the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey's vessel "Haiyang Dizhi Er Hao" in the South China Sea, fully validating the deep-sea operational capabilities of the domestically produced deep-sea winch system.
In December 2023, Dalian Maritime University and multiple units initiated technological research to overcome challenges such as the inability of traditional metal-armored CTD winch systems for deep-sea and polar regions to achieve fixed-depth clean sampling. They broke through key technologies including design optimization of the full-ocean depth scientific winch system and active heave compensation control, successfully developing the "Haiwei CTD11000" in May 2025.
During this trial, the "Haiwei CTD11000" completed two deep-sea towing operations in waters exceeding 4,000 meters in depth, with cable deployment lengths exceeding 11,000 meters each time, reaching a maximum of 11,249.4 meters. Under sea state conditions of 4 to 5 in the South China Sea, the active heave compensation amplitude reached ±2.63 meters, with a compensation rate of 97.1%, fully verifying the system's support capability for fixed-depth clean sampling operations.
Li Wenhua, Professor at Dalian Maritime University and Chief Scientist of the project, stated that the "Haiwei CTD11000" will be deployed for routine deep-sea and polar survey operations, providing technological support for China's deep-sea and polar resource development, as well as the construction of a strong maritime and transportation nation.