Written by Zhang Shuanghu, a reporter from China Science Daily.
"If you meet him at the staircase, you would never imagine that this simple and amiable 'neighborhood grandpa' is the person behind the research and design of over 60 types of ships for the country." Liang Qikang, former director of the 708th Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Group (referred to as the 708 Institute), used to live in the same building as Xu Xueyan. He praised Xu Xueyan as a pioneer in modern Chinese shipbuilding science, a modest and dedicated scientific worker, a mentor and friend to young scholars, and an activist dedicated to public welfare.
"Focus on the task, not the person" is the overall impression colleagues and students have of Xu Xueyan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the chief engineer of the 708 Institute.
Engaged in ship research and design for over 60 years, Xu Xueyan, driven by his love for the shipbuilding industry, his pursuit of science, and his dedication to his work, has overseen the research and design of various types of ships, from Huangpu River ferries to the "Yuanwang" survey ship. Among them, the "Yuanwang" ship won the National Science and Technology Progress Award Special Prize, and the "Dongfeng" ten-thousand-ton cargo ship won the National Science Conference Award and was named one of the "Top Ten Famous Ships in China." He once won the inaugural "He Liang He Li" Foundation Award with Chen Jingrun and has been repeatedly recognized as an advanced scientific and technological worker in Shanghai, a model worker in Shanghai, an advanced worker at the National Science Conference, and an advanced worker in the national defense industry.
Despite numerous awards and honors, he has always maintained a low-key, down-to-earth, and simple style. In any situation, he is the most "unremarkable" figure. Throughout his life, he has been striving to do one thing well: building ships for the country.
Xu Xueyan (May 11, 1924 - March 5, 2016)
Aspiring Shipbuilder
On May 11, 1924, Xu Xueyan was born in Beixiashu Village, Zhengluqiao Town, Wujin County, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Surrounded by lush mountains and rivers, boats became an indispensable means of transportation in the water town.
"In the summer when I was young, I enjoyed swimming and rowing in the river. Being the eldest of five brothers in the family, I was always the one steering the boat, able to row wherever I pleased. This fostered a deep affection for boats within me," author Zhang Yi recounted the wonderful times young Xu Xueyan spent in "The Far-reaching Sentiment - A Biography of Xu Xueyan."
After the "July 7th Incident" in 1937, the Japanese quickly reached Xu Xueyan's hometown. With his father working in another city, the 13-year-old had to flee with the villagers, traveling from Changzhou to Nanjing, then to Jiulonggang, and further to Fuyang, passing through Henan to Wuhan, finally arriving in Guiyang after crossing five provinces. The frights and hardships along the way made Xu Xueyan realize the weakness of China's national defense. It was then that he resolved to study a profession related to national defense industry in the future.
In 1944, Xu Xueyan enrolled in the Shipbuilding Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (relocated to Chongqing during the war), where he studied under Mr. Xin Yixin, the founder of contemporary Chinese ship design and scientific research institutions. In 1951, recommended by Xin Yixin, he joined the Technical Department of the Shipbuilding Industry Management Bureau of the Ministry of Heavy Industry as a technician, embarking on the path of ship design.
"Influenced by the environment, inspired by emotions, and guided by excellent mentors, Xu Xueyan gradually formed an inseparable bond with ships, never to part ways again," Zhang Yi remarked.
On April 15, 1960, the "Dongfeng" was launched.
Practicing Skills in Reality
"From graduating university to leaving the design position, he personally drew and approved thousands of drawings," Liang Qikang said. "He may be the person who has designed the most ships today, many of which have become classics in the history of Chinese shipbuilding."
After the founding of New China, foreign trade grew rapidly, and the country urgently needed ten-thousand-ton ocean-going cargo ships. In 1958, the task of designing and building China's first ten-thousand-ton ocean-going cargo ship, the "Dongfeng," fell to Xu Xueyan.
"This work was extremely difficult. At that time, it was during the 'Great Leap Forward' era, demanding that all indicators surpass those of Europe and America. At the same time, the design cycle was repeatedly compressed, leading me to work overtime day and night, sometimes sleeping only three to four hours a day, with the issue of the 'Dongfeng' ship constantly on my mind," Xu Xueyan wrote in his recollection.
Xu Xueyan placed special emphasis on learning from practice. When designing the "Dongfeng," he focused on cutting-edge technology while working closely with workers and technical staff to solve difficulties together. At the Jiangnan Shipyard, he set up a simple design room next to the ship platform, studying, designing, and constructing simultaneously. To reduce the ship's weight, he proposed using high-strength low-carbon alloy steel in parts of the entire ship. With the lighter hull, the ship's loading capacity, speed, and steel consumption indicators all significantly improved, and the final completed ship did indeed reach the international advanced level at that time.
"The 'Dongfeng' is China's first ten-thousand-ton ocean-going cargo ship designed and built independently, marking a milestone in China's shipbuilding industry," Liang Qikang said. "Moreover, most of its materials and equipment were independently designed and built in China, which is remarkable."
In 1978, the "Dongfeng" was awarded at the National Science Conference and later ranked first in the "Top Ten Famous Ships in China."
In 1965, China initiated a missile development project, with the intercontinental missile's projected impact point near the equator in the South Pacific. It was necessary to simultaneously start the development of ocean measurement and salvage vessels. On July 18, 1967, the "Yuanwang" measurement ship project was launched, and 44-year-old Xu Xueyan was entrusted with the task due to his experience in designing the "Dongfeng" and others.
"The biggest difficulty was the tight timeline," Xu Xueyan recalled. "At that time, we were required to design two ships simultaneously and have them built by 1969. Because the time was too short, this was almost an impossible task."
After careful analysis, Xu Xueyan believed that the main parameters of the two ships (such as carrying capacity and speed) were completely the same, with only differences in shipborne observation equipment. He proposed merging the designs of the two ships into one during the design phase, reducing construction costs and time significantly.
In terms of technology, the measurement equipment required a wide angle of view, but the ship's length was limited, making it impossible for the equipment's view to be the same as on land. Additionally, a series of issues such as ship sway, steel structure deformation, onboard noise, and vibration at sea would all affect precise measurements.
"Mr. Xu often said that shipbuilding is a systematic engineering process, and each ship is the crystallization of collective wisdom," recalled Chen Anyang, a researcher at the 708 Institute. "He never emphasized individuals and called on everyone to have a collective mindset, work together, and form the greatest synergy."
When designing the "Yuanwang" measurement ship, Xu Xueyan led the design team to solve eight key technical challenges, including the overall plan, stability, high-precision navigation positioning, electromagnetic compatibility, and special equipment installation, based on technical requirements and collective wisdom. This ensured the smooth progress of the research, design, construction, and sea trials of the measurement ship.
After the delivery and use of "Yuanwang 1" and "Yuanwang 2," Xu Xueyan participated in the full-range test of intercontinental ballistic missiles in 1980, underwater launch tests in 1982, and synchronous communication satellite launch missions in 1984. All were proven to have good overall performance, complete system functions, and stable equipment operation.
Yuanwang 2
Pride in Shipbuilding
Xu Xueyan's struggle can be seen as a microcosm of the history of shipbuilding technology in new China. He witnessed the development of China's shipbuilding industry and naval equipment construction, creating numerous firsts in the history of ship design in new China. Throughout, he maintained a habit of continuous learning and researching problems.
"Even at the age of 90, he remained very interested in new technologies, willing to try and accept new things," said Cai Linjun, a senior engineer at the 708 Institute.
In 2004, Cai Linjun began serving as Xu Xueyan's secretary. At that time, Xu Xueyan was already 80 years old, but he repeatedly asked Cai Linjun to teach him how to use a computer.
"I could have handled tasks like sending and receiving emails and typing for him, but he insisted on learning by himself, including typing, going online, using mobile apps, MP3 players, and more," Cai Linjun added. "Actually, learning to use a computer at that age is challenging, but he enjoyed exploring and was willing to learn."
Xu Xueyan believed that designers should constantly update their concepts, learn new knowledge, digest and absorb it, and apply it to practice. For this reason, he adjusted the computer font size to continue learning. Even at the age of 90, he still frequently went online to read news and search for information.
In 1998, in an article he wrote for the book "Academician Thinking," Xu Xueyan not only introduced the future development trends in the shipbuilding field but also foresaw the development prospects of emerging technologies such as hydrogen fuel, fiber optic communication, and sensor technology. Among them, his description of the future development of artificial intelligence and the scenarios where artificial intelligence assists human work was remarkably insightful, foreseeing today's artificial intelligence technology 26 years ago.
"Mr. Xu was very sensitive to new technologies, including many that were not related to shipbuilding," said Chen Anyang. "He believed that practice was the best way to learn, and he liked to personally practice many things."
Later, due to rapidly declining eyesight, Xu Xueyan could only read with the help of a high-powered magnifying glass.
"Usually, the magnifying glass used is only three to five times magnification, but later he used magnifying glasses that were close to 20 times magnification. He would hold the magnifying glass and slowly read documents word by word," Cai Linjun said.
Having been around Xu Xueyan for a long time, Cai Linjun felt that he preferred others to call him "Chief Xu" (Chief Design Engineer).
"Because he was the chief engineer at the time, as well as the chief designer of many types of ships such as the Yuanwang and Xiangyanghong 10, and he served as the chief engineer of the institute for a particularly long time," Cai Linjun said. "He was prouder of his identity as a ship designer."
The "Yuanwang" vessel was awarded the National Science and Technology Progress Special Award, with Xu Xueyan (third from the left) present at the award ceremony.
A Mentor and a Philanthropist
After retiring, Xu Xueyan devoted himself to both ship research and philanthropy with great passion.
The 708 Ship Model Test Basin was the first test basin built in China in the 1950s. Before the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the basin was designated as part of the Expo Park and scheduled for demolition to facilitate the park's construction.
However, this basin played a significant role in the history of China's shipbuilding industry. It was not only a historical relic but also the only test basin of historical significance at that time. To preserve this piece of history, Xu Xueyan, along with over 20 shipbuilding experts, submitted a report to the Shanghai municipal government, advocating for the preservation of the basin. Through their efforts, the city revised the Expo plans, ultimately saving this historical relic.
Xu Xueyan was frequently invited to serve as a judge in academic activities and participate in ship trial voyages. He always showed great enthusiasm and enjoyed these activities. During a ferry trial voyage from Yantai to Dalian, the 80-year-old Xu Xueyan personally inspected the cabins, engine rooms, and machinery spaces, inquiring about test data to understand performance parameters and navigation conditions.
In 2005, when facing challenges in the approval process for the publication of the third edition of the "Ship Design and Use Manual," Xu Xueyan actively wrote recommendation letters for the book, provided suggestions, and contacted nearly a hundred experts to contribute articles and propose revisions. His efforts ensured the smooth publication of this academic work.
"The Shanghai Society of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering once organized the 'Big Hands Holding Small Hands' activity. Xu Xueyan not only actively planned the event but also personally engaged in it, repeatedly lecturing local primary and secondary schools on the history of shipbuilding and various ship design research processes. Shipbuilding and philanthropy may have been the areas where he poured the most passion," said Liang Qikang.
Xu Xueyan (middle) was hired as an extracurricular technology instructor at Jiangnan Elementary School and took a group photo with teachers and students. Interviewee provided image.
"Mr. Xu is the kind of person who is not easy to spot in a crowd," said Cai Linjun. "He doesn't seem to have a legendary background or shine brightly, but being able to diligently do everything well for six or seven decades is truly remarkable in itself."
