On October 20, Shanghai Jiao Tong University announced that it had signed a platform construction contract with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) for the national major science and technology infrastructure project “Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility” (referred to as the “Offshore Floating Island”).
Earlier reports indicated that Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding won the bid for this project with an offer of 2.763 billion yuan (approximately $414 million). The signing of this construction contract marks the full-scale entry of this strategically important national asset into a new phase of construction, with completion and delivery expected in June 2030.
According to reports, the “Offshore Floating Island” major scientific facility project is driven by the advanced application of new technologies in deep-sea science and engineering. It pioneers a novel concept for an ocean research platform that combines “long-term stationing” with “rapid mobility,” integrating extreme research capabilities such as superior typhoon resistance, extended operational endurance, and massive load-bearing capacity. The project is designed to support key objectives in marine science and engineering—including the independent and controllable development of high-end marine equipment, the sustainable utilization of marine resources, marine meteorological forecasting and disaster prevention/mitigation, and the study of the origins of deep-sea biodiversity—thereby providing new pathways, models, and tools for such research. Furthermore, the project will empower the development of “new quality productive forces” in the marine sector, serving as a landmark national asset for deep-sea science and technology.
The “Offshore Floating Island” major scientific facility project comprises a main facility platform, ship-based laboratory systems, and shore-based support systems. The main platform features an innovative “semi-submersible twin-hull” design, with a maximum displacement of approximately 74,000 tons and a capacity for 238 personnel. Designed for a cruising speed of 11 knots, it is capable of conducting operations in Sea State 7 and remaining safely in position during a Category 17 typhoon, offering comprehensive experimental capabilities across all ocean depths and under all weather conditions.
The platform’s shipboard laboratory system serves as a base for conducting research in areas such as marine equipment, marine science, and marine meteorology. It comprises six shipboard laboratories—covering fields including heavy marine equipment and systems technology, meteorological observation and research for marine disasters, and long-term monitoring of marine ecosystems—along with one offshore operations support center. The shore-based support system functions as a land-based hub and command-and-control center for the operation, maintenance, and offshore activities of the “open-ocean floating island,” with facilities located in Changxing (Shanghai) and Sanya (Hainan).