China is developing a massive floating research platform engineered to survive nuclear shock waves, a project that analysts say could reshape competition for maritime influence. The Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, officially classified as a national major scientific infrastructure project under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, will be the world’s first mobile, self-sustaining artificial island, reports scmp.com.
The structure, weighing 78,000 tonnes, uses a semi-submersible twin-hull design and will support long-duration missions far from shore.
According to Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), which leads the design, the platform will measure 138 metres long and 85 metres wide, with a main deck rising 45 metres above the waterline. It will accommodate up to 238 personnel for four months without resupply and operate at speeds of up to 15 knots. The vessel can function in rough conditions up to sea state 7 and withstand typhoons rated as high as category 17.
Despite its civilian label, the platform incorporates nuclear-blast-resistant construction normally found in military systems. A paper published on November 4 in the Chinese Journal of Ship Research by Professor Yang Deqing’s team at SJTU confirms that parts of the superstructure follow GJB 1060.1-1991, a Chinese military standard for nuclear shock protection. These protected compartments house crucial emergency systems for power, navigation and communication.
Leave a Reply