China has officially launched “Open-Sea Floating Island,” the world’s first ultra-large marine research platform, as part of a major national science and technology infrastructure project.
The project includes a deep-sea, all-weather resident floating research facility designed to support scientific research in areas such as marine equipment, marine resources, and marine science.
The facility consists of three main systems: a primary platform, ship-based laboratories, and shore-based support.
The main platform uses an innovative semi-submersible twin-hull design. This allows full-scale testing of deep-sea equipment weighing hundreds of tons and supports scientific exploration at depths of up to 10,000 meters.
The project is expected to be completed by 2030. Once operational, it will serve as an open-sea testing ground for deep-sea mining systems, key marine equipment, and offshore oil and gas facilities.
The platform is also expected to accelerate the commercial development of marine resources, help reveal seasonal changes in marine ecosystems, explore the origins and evolution of life, and improve typhoon forecasting accuracy to strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities.
The project is being led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). On Friday, the university also launched a new institute focused on deep-sea science and engineering, according to its official website.
