On May 5, the deepwater pipelay and heavy lift vessel, “Hai Yang Shi You 201”, of Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the “COOEC”), departed from Gaolan International Terminal in Zhuhai, Guangdong, heading to a pipeline installation site in the Middle East. This marks the vessel’s debut in the international market, signifying a major step forward in enhancing China’s global operational capabilities for large-scale marine engineering vessels.
In recent years, COOEC has intensified its efforts to develop the Middle Eastern market, securing multiple offshore projects, including Saudi Arabia’s Marjan, CRPO122, and CRPO149/152, as well as Qatar’s RUYA EPCI09 and ISND5-2. Notably, the Qatar NOC RUYA EPCI09 and ISND5-2 projects alone involve the installation of 50 subsea pipelines, demanding exceptionally high capabilities from large-scale offshore pipelay vessels.
The “Hai Yang Shi You 201” is the world’s first vessel equipped with 3,000-meter deepwater pipelaying capacity, 4,000-ton heavy lifting capability, and DP-3 dynamic positioning. With an endurance capability of 12,000 nautical miles, it can operate in unlimited navigation zones worldwide, excluding the Arctic. Since its commissioning, it has laid over 1,500 kilometers of subsea pipelines and lifted more than 140,000 structural tons, setting over 20 records for China’s subsea pipeline installation. It’s technical sophistication and comprehensive operational capabilities rank among the highest in Asia.
The Middle East enforces stringent vessel inspection standards. The certification process involves over 1,000 items, covering hull structure, power systems, safety regulations, and third-party verification. To meet these rigorous international standards and adapt to the region’s complex marine conditions, COOEC assembled a specialized team to upgrade the “Hai Yang Shi You 201”. The modifications—spanning hull reinforcement, power systems, electrical equipment, and DP systems—successfully passed Qatar’s Maritime Authority review, earning international recognition for operational reliability. Additionally, a shore-based support team collaborated with local customs to develop a tailored clearance strategy, including a dedicated customs guide and 24-hour online consultation, slashing processing time and completing inspections six days ahead of schedule.
The vessel’s journey to Qatar spans more than 6,000 nautical miles—over a quarter of the Earth’s equatorial circumference. Shi Xinmin, the vessel’s supervisor, noted that the team conducted critical pre-departure preparations, including stinger dismantling, crane performance tests, and tensioner calibrations, alongside DP system sea trials. They also formulated contingency plans for over 20 potential scenarios, from equipment failure to extreme weather, mitigating risks such as monsoon disruptions during the long voyage.
Prior to the“Hai Yang Shi You 201”, COOEC’s “Hai Yang Shi You 289”, “Hai Yang Shi You 698”, and several chartered vessels had already set sail for the Middle East. With this latest deployment, the first large-scale concentrated offshore vessel operations in the Middle East for Chinese companies is about to start.