Nansha company builds China's first intelligent semi-submersible vessel

The 50,000 DWT semi-submersible heavy-lifting vessel named Xiang An Kou, built by the Guangzhou Shipyard International, is put into operation on June 18. [Photo/gznsnews.com.cn]

The 50,000 Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT) semi-submersible heavy-lifting vessel named Xiang An Kou, built by the Nansha-based Guangzhou Shipyard International, was put into operation on June 18. 

Guangzhou Shipyard International, owned by China State Shipbuilding, is currently the biggest and most advanced comprehensive ship manufacturing and maintenance company in South China. 

Xiang An Kou is the ninth semi-submersible vessel built by Guangzhou Shipyard International and is more advanced than previous models. It is the first of its kind in China to be equipped with intelligent systems, which can collect data and provide decision-making input during operation, according to the sea and ship conditions. 

The vessel's draft capacity has been increased to 26 meters, equivalent to the height of a nine-story building. 

Semi-submersible vessels operate similarly to forklifts on land, but the deck can be submerged under water to lift cargo at designated spots. They are mainly used to transport super-large equipment that cannot be divided into parts, such as offshore engineering platforms and low-powered ships.

The manufacturing of semi-submersible vessels is a complex task which makes heavy use of water tightness and dynamic positioning systems. At present, only a few countries around the world can produce semi-submersible vessels.