China's New Aircraft Carrier Might Not Be Seaworthy
By KOBE TAKENAKA
Published September 25, 2012
BEIJING -- China sent its first aircraft carrier into formal service on Tuesday amid a tense maritime dispute with Japan. Maritime experts and Chinese naval crew have their initial reviews.
According to China’s Ministry of Defense the newly named Liaoning aircraft carrier would “raise the overall operational strength of the Chinese navy.” In the long term, this may be the case; in the short term, however, quality control issues cloud the vessel.
There are intelligence reports that the vessel has difficulty turning left because of a fracture in the steering linkage. “An aircraft carrier that can only turn right will have difficulty navigating narrow straits and may limit China to the Northern Hemisphere,” said Naval Academy historian Brent Scunner.
Also, the aircraft carrier emits a chemical, plastic-like odor that makes its crew light-headed. Liaoning was refitted from a ship bought from Ukraine by encasing it with a hard plastic shell. Apparently, the plastic casing gives off smelly fumes.
“I recently bought a holder in my car for my iPhone,” said Chinese seaman Wang Zhijung. “It also [was] made [in]China and smell same way.”
Other Chinese seaman have noted that fixtures break easily and do not fit properly. One seaman sat on a fold out chair which broke at its hinges. The fall to the ground caused contusions to his vertebrae. He is on four-week sick leave. Amateur video appears to show tens of seaman jumping from the side of the ship as it left it port in coastal city Dalian.
“Today China entered the era of the aircraft carrier,” said Chinese Minister of Defense Zhang Zhen on the bow of the ship in a ceremony yesterday. Whether the entry is a smooth one is yet to be seen.
