Zhen Hua 30 completes China’s first 10,000-ton offshore steel structure installation

China’s heavy-lift crane vessel Zhen Hua 30 has successfully installed the country’s first offshore steel structure exceeding 10,000 tons, marking a significant milestone in marine infrastructure construction. 

The installation was completed by Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) and reflects China’s growing capability to deploy large-scale offshore modules for oil & gas platforms, wind-farm substations, or other marine-based infrastructure. The Zhen Hua 30 is recognized for its world-leading lift capacity, having demonstrated a 13,200-metre-tonne lift during commissioning tests. 

From a civil and structural engineering perspective, the project underscores several technical achievements: mobilisation of a self-propelled crane vessel with integrated accommodation for 380 personnel, deployment of dynamic positioning (DP2) thruster systems, and the precision installation of a multi-thousand-tonne steel module in offshore sea-state conditions. 

The execution required complex coordination of marine logistics, including transport of the structure to the installation site, ensuring vessel stability during lift and placement, and managing environmental loads such as wave and wind forces while positioning the module onto foundations. The scale of this operation highlights China’s advanced integration of marine, structural, and offshore engineering disciplines in large infrastructure builds.