China has achieved a significant milestone in marine engineering with the delivery of the world’s largest self-propelled pile-driving vessel. This vessel, built in Jiangsu province, showcases China’s growing capabilities in advanced shipbuilding and marine construction, according to Xinhua.
Highest Derrick
The “Erhang Changqing,” a recently launched pile-driving vessel, boasts the world’s highest derrick (150 meters), surpassing the previous record held by “Yihang Jinzhuang,” also built by ZPMC. This vessel, designed by CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., is crucial for the installation of massive foundations for offshore wind farms, a sector where China is a global leader.
The “Erhang Changqing” is equipped with a 150-meter-high derrick capable of handling 700-tonne piles with a diameter of seven meters. This impressive capability is attributed to a significant technological advancement by CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. – the development of a 385-tonne oil cylinder, the largest ever produced, measuring nearly two meters in diameter and an unprecedented 28 meters in length.
Pile-driving vessels play a vital role in offshore wind farm construction by driving steel pipes into the seabed to create stable foundations. These vessels typically consist of three key components: the hull, the derrick, and the oil cylinder, which acts as the vessel’s primary power source.
China’s dominance in the large offshore wind turbine market underscores the importance of such advanced vessels. While China leads in production, the development of critical components like the oil cylinder showcases the country’s growing technological prowess in this sector.
Advance Technologies
Yang Xiuli, deputy chief engineer of CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., highlighted that the manufacturing of large oil cylinders in China previously faced challenges due to reliance on imported components like sealing rings, bearing lubrication pads, and corrosion-resistant materials, which were costly and difficult to procure.
To overcome these challenges, CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. collaborated with six leading domestic enterprises and four renowned universities, including Tsinghua and Tongji. This collaborative effort resulted in the successful development and localization of these critical components, ensuring the independent production of super-large and super-long oil cylinders.
The “Erhang Changqing” incorporates advanced technologies, including a precise positioning system that ensures accurate pile placement with a deviation of just a few centimeters. Furthermore, the vessel is designed with a focus on environmental sustainability. It utilizes supercapacitors and energy storage batteries to stabilize grid power fluctuations and employs a high-efficiency permanent magnet motor for hoisting operations, thereby reducing fuel consumption and minimizing carbon emissions.
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Source: Xinhua
