TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Cheng Kung University’s human-powered submarine team debuted at the 18th International Submarine Race, held June 23–27 at the US Naval Research Laboratory, setting a team personal best of 3.24 knots.

The team, primarily composed of students from the university's System and Naval Mechatronic Engineering Department, focuses on submarine hull design, propulsion and control performance, and system integration. Their research aims to support the development of advanced underwater vehicle technologies

This year’s competition featured 17 teams from six countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Singapore, and Poland. Canada’s Omer 13, from the School of Higher Technology in Montreal, won the championship and broke the world speed record for human-powered submarines with a run of 7.68 knots, per CNA.

NCKU's team ranked sixth in top speed and 10th in average speed over the full course. The university said the submarine’s stability and performance still need improvement. It also emphasized that the team will use the experience gained this year to design a next-generation submarine.

The team faced several technical challenges during the competition. During its first trial run on June 24, the submarine struck the bottom and broke a propeller blade. After replacing it on June 25, another blade detached unexpectedly. Fortunately, no further mechanical issues occurred in the remaining races.

Team captain Chen Chuan-jen (陳傳仁) said that although they did not take home the top prize, the experience of calculating and adjusting weight and buoyancy on-site proved highly valuable. He added that the 130-meter racecourse allowed submarines to sprint at full speed, thoroughly testing their performance.

Shen Kuan-hung (沈冠宏), another team member, noted that the course was narrower than in similar competitions, making even small mistakes could cause the submarine to hit the wall. He also pointed out that teams had only one week to complete assembly, fine-tuning, and racing, greatly increasing the challenges. With much of the equipment requiring independent preparation, Shen said the team had to be especially thorough and meticulous throughout the process.

In June 2024, the team competed in the European International Submarine Races in the UK with their self-built submarine, Pegasus, which measured 3.22 meters long and weighed 91 kg. They finished fifth and completed the full course, breaking their 2022 performance record.