Yantai boosts marine sector with tech innovation

A delivered wind turbine installation vessel stands ready at CIMC Raffles' Yantai construction base. [Photo/YMG]

Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, is advancing its marine engineering equipment industry through technological innovation and a strong industrial chain. 

As one of the city's six key industrial chains, Yantai's shipbuilding and offshore engineering sector reached an output value of 48 billion yuan ($6.73 billion) in 2024.

The growth is driven by major players such as CIMC Raffles, Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry Co, and Dajin Heavy Industry. 

CIMC Raffles recently delivered the Scarabeo 5 Congo LNG FPU in Yantai using an innovative method that involved constructing the entire semi-submersible platform onshore and sliding it into the water, greatly reducing build time.

Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry Co, specializing in export merchant ships and high-end ocean-going fishing vessels, offers rapid repair services for large vessels and has its production schedule filled through 2029.

Dajin Heavy Industry (Yantai) Wind Power Co, based in Penglai district, is the world's leading supplier of offshore wind turbine towers and pile foundations by capacity, holding a 60 percent global market share in segmented towers.

"The high-quality development of these firms has strengthened Yantai's marine industry and set the stage for future growth," said Zhang Hong, director of the Yantai Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau.

The sector also benefits from clustering in key industrial parks, including the Offshore Equipment Assembly Industrial Park, CIMC Zero-Carbon Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park, and Penglai Offshore Wind Power Homeport Industrial Park.

Through independent innovation and global cooperation, local companies have made multiple technological advancements. For instance, a deep-water robotic welding system developed by CIMC Paton Welding Center, has improved underwater pipeline installation efficiency by 40 percent. Joint labs with partners from Norway and Singapore have produced 17 patents in digital twin and low-carbon power technologies.

From the Yellow Sea to the Arctic, and from traditional ships to smart platforms, Yantai is helping propel the global marine engineering industry toward a more innovative and sustainable future.