China formally launches project to build aircraft carrier-sized ‘science island’
China’s massive maritime science infrastructure – an aircraft carrier-sized floating artificial island – has officially entered its engineering construction phase. On October 18, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), the facility’s lead developer, signed a construction contract worth over 2.7 billion yuan (US$405 million) with a shipbuilder under China State Shipbuilding Corporation, according to…
China has officially launched a project to construct an aircraft carrier-sized floating research platform, dubbed the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility. The project, valued at over 2.7 billion yuan (US$405 million), is being led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is set to undergo engineering construction.
The ultra-large platform, measuring 138 meters long and 85 meters wide, is designed to be self-sustainable and capable of cruising at 11 knots (20 km/h) while supporting more than 200 researchers. Its mobility and permanence make it a unique addition to China's maritime scientific infrastructure, filling a gap left by traditional research vessels and fixed offshore platforms.
The facility, which is also a major national scientific infrastructure project in China's 14th five-year plan, is expected to be completed by June 2030. Its twin-hull design allows it to operate in sea state 7 conditions, including high waves and typhoons, making it ideal for deep-sea and far-ocean research. The platform features six laboratories for research in heavy marine equipment, systems technology, disaster meteorology, and long-term marine ecosystem monitoring.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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