China Unveils New Indigenously Developed Deep‑water Offshore Engineering Vessel

Qidong, China – A new generation of domestically engineered deep‑water multi‑functional offshore vessel has been officially named and delivered in Jiangsu’s Qidong city on 21 August 2026, strengthening China’s equipment capacity for deep‑sea energy resource exploration and development.

According to state media releases, the vessel, Haiyang Shiyou 292, boasts a displacement of over 17,600 tonnes, with a deck area equivalent to nearly five standard basketball courts. It adopts advanced intelligent power station and dual‑direction heat exchange systems to optimise on‑board power distribution, cutting fuel consumption by approximately 15 per cent compared with conventional marine solutions. The vessel features a maximum endurance of 15,000 nautical miles, placing its digital, intelligent and low‑carbon operational capabilities among the global leading standards for similar offshore engineering vessels.

Constructed with rigorous industrial specifications, the hull consists of 93 structural segments and more than 80 enclosed compact cabins. Faced with complex construction challenges brought by compact cabin layouts and widespread adoption of innovative technologies, the project team implemented full‑process refined management mechanisms. The entire procedures covering vessel design, construction and sea trials have been completed within less than two years, accumulating mature technical and managerial experience for subsequent domestic offshore engineering vessel projects.

Equipped with comprehensive automatic control systems, Haiyang Shiyou 292 enables real‑time monitoring and intelligent linkage of core operational equipment. It supports round‑the‑clock analysis of human and mechanical operating status and achieves periodic unattended operation during routine missions. The integrated intelligent systems underpin stable, efficient and low‑energy maritime operations across diverse deep‑sea scenarios.

2026 has witnessed the commissioning of multiple high‑end offshore engineering vessels developed by China National Offshore Oil Corporation. Alongside Haiyang Shiyou 292, the country has launched Haiyang Shiyou 696, its first integrated large‑scale fracturing vessel. The enterprise has built a professional fleet covering deep‑water multi‑functional operation vessels, heavy‑lift pipelaying ships, trench dredging vessels and large‑scale launching barges.

A systematic, internationally competitive offshore engineering equipment and operation system is taking shape in China, supporting full‑depth and full‑coverage marine engineering missions. Continuous upgrading of offshore hardware facilities has underpinned the delivery of multiple landmark domestic marine engineering equipment, empowering independent and secure exploitation of national marine energy resources. The iterative upgrading of domestic offshore vessel capacity will further unlock the development potential of China’s deep‑sea energy resources.