China Is Building the World's Largest Naval Support Ship

China is building the world's largest naval support ship with a displacement of over 60,000 tons. The ship will provide logistics for the Chinese Navy's open sea operations...

Scraper SystemMay 24, 2026, 02:53 PM

China appears to be very close to launching the world's largest naval support ship. China State Shipbuilding Corporation shared a photo from one of its shipyards on social media as part of a new Chinese solar term message. In the photo, a massive hull in a dry dock caught attention. This image sparked speculation among military observers that the ship is a support vessel and will strengthen the logistics capacity of the People's Liberation Army Navy. The ship's main deck and island superstructures seem largely completed, suggesting the ship will soon be moved out of the dry dock for final assembly. The Chinese Navy's shift towards open sea operations increases the need for such large support ships. Due to China's limited number of overseas military bases, support ships are needed to supply vital materials such as fuel, provisions, and ammunition during open sea missions. Currently, the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier groups are supported by 45,000-ton Type 901 Fuyu-class fast combat support ships and smaller Type 903 Fuchi-class vessels. However, with the construction of a new super aircraft carrier, a larger class of support ships to provide logistics support is expected to be required. A report based on commercial satellite images taken in March revealed that the ship is being built at the Longxue shipyard in Guangzhou. The ship is estimated to be approximately 271 meters long and 37 meters wide. With these dimensions, the ship is expected to have a displacement between 60,000 and 65,000 tons. This means a larger capacity than the retired US Navy Sacramento-class fast combat support ships. In the March satellite images, the ship's superstructure had not yet been installed, but it appears to have been completed in the last two months. Analysts suggest that if the construction pace is maintained, the ship could be completed by the end of the year and enter service in 2027 or 2028.

China Is Building the World's Largest Naval Support Ship

China is building the world's largest naval support ship with a displacement of over 60,000 tons. The ship will provide logistics for the Chinese Navy's open sea operations...