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Zhen Hua 33 semisubmersible float-over

The Zhen Hua 33 is a self-propelled semi-submersible transportation and float-over installation vessel. With a free deck area of 185 x 43m, the Zhen Hua 33 is the longest vessel in its class. After more than two years in the making, China's first semi-submersible vessel for both civil and military use came into operation on 16 March 2016 in Qidong, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The three-island semi-submersible ship known as Zhenhua-33, developed by the Qidong branch of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., is 227 meters long, with a lifting force of 50,000 tonnes and a draft of 27 meters while semi-submerged. Its main deck covers 7,700 square meters and has a navigational speed of 14 knots. The ship has a range of 18,000 nautical miles, making cruising and working at high seas possible.

"Zhenhua-33 is the biggest civil ship in China to date that can be used for military purposes. Like an aircraft carrier, it can be used at sea for loading, shipping, unloading and repair." says Huang Hao, an official from a joint logistics support center in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. This semi-submersible ship makes use of state of the art technology and levels of automation. Only China and The Netherlands currently have the ability to independently design and build such a vessel, reports military.cnr.cn.

The vessel is constructed with a reinforced stern and is equipped to submerge 13.5 m for loading and discharge of deeper draft drilling rigs and floating production facilities. A Kongsberg DP-II system is fully integrated with two tunnel thrusters at the bow and three fully-revolving main azimuth thrusters at the stern. With 19,000kW of power, the vessel is expected to transit at speeds up to 14 knots. It is currently on schedule to be delivered in Q4 2016.

The cargo platform of Zhenhua-33 is as big as two standard football pitches, which is able to hold large steel equipment and offshore drilling platforms, as well as carrying a helicopter. A semi-submersible ship can submerge most of its structure, maneuver beneath another floating vessel, and then de-ballast to pick up the other vessel as cargo.

ZPMC-OTL Marine Contractor Ltd. (ZOMC) is a strategic joint venture between ZPMC Offshore Services Group and OffshoreTech LLC. The global alliance provides the oil and gas market with access to unique niche vessels and best in class engineering for execution of a broad range of complex offshore projects serving client needs through the full lifecycle of a facility from greenfield installation, brownfield modifications, and ultimately decommissioning. ASs of 2016 the fleet consisted of 2 heavy lift vessels, 27 transportation vessels, 5 shear leg cranes, 18 tugs, 22 barges, and 3 jack-up barges.