SHANGHAI – 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 aimed at advancing deep-sea exploration, marine resource development, and equipment testing.
The facility is designed as a deep-sea, all-weather resident floating research station, capable of supporting scientific missions across multiple domains, including marine equipment validation, marine resource assessment, and fundamental marine science research.
The project consists of three main systems: a primary floating platform, ship-based laboratories, and shore-based support facilities. The main platform employs an innovative semi-submersible twin-hull design, allowing it to conduct full-scale testing of deep-sea equipment weighing hundreds of tons. It is engineered to support scientific exploration at depths of up to 10,000 meters — covering virtually the entire ocean floor.
This capability positions the platform as a critical tool for testing deep-sea mining systems, key marine equipment, and offshore oil and gas facilities in real open-sea conditions.
The project is expected to be fully completed by 2030. Once operational, the Open-Sea Floating Island will serve multiple strategic and scientific purposes. It is expected to accelerate the commercial development of marine resources, help reveal seasonal changes in marine ecosystems, explore the origins and evolution of life in deep-sea environments, improve typhoon forecasting accuracy, and strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities.
The ambitious project is being led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) , one of China’s premier research institutions. On Friday, the university also launched a new institute focused on deep-sea science and engineering, according to an announcement on its official website.
The launch of both the research platform and the specialized institute highlights China’s growing commitment to becoming a global leader in marine science and deep-sea technology — an area with significant implications for resource security, climate research, and geopolitical influence in international waters.
