China to Build a Floating Island

China has begun construction of what is described as the world’s first autonomous floating island complex designed for long-term monitoring and experimental work in the open sea. According to the «South China Morning Post», the project is estimated to cost around $405 million and is expected to be fully completed by the summer of 2030.

The project is being developed jointly by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an enterprise affiliated with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The floating island is intended for testing high-tech marine equipment. In the future, facilities are also expected to be made available to international scientific institutions.

The floating structure will be 138 meters long and 85 meters wide. Its main deck will stand 45 meters above the water, roughly equivalent to the height of a 15-story residential building. The complex is designed to operate continuously in waves ranging from 6 to 9 meters and to withstand powerful typhoons reaching force 17.

The complex will contain 6 specialized laboratories where researchers will develop large-scale marine equipment, carry out long-term monitoring of ocean ecosystems and scientifically study hazardous meteorological phenomena.