‘World’s Largest’ Piling Vessel Delivered in China

Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) has delivered a new piling vessel to China Communications Construction Corporation (CCCC), which plans to use it for deep-sea bridge and offshore wind farm construction.

The vessel, named Erhang Changqing and delivered on 5 January, was developed by CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company, which says the new vessel has the tallest pile frame, the biggest pile lifting capacity, the longest pile driving length and the strongest wind and wave resistance in the world.

Erhang Changqing is 130.5 metres long, 40.8 metres wide and has a draught of 8.4 metres. It features a 150-metre tall pile frame and a 385-tonne main hydraulic cylinder with a diameter of nearly 2 metres and a total length of 28 metres, providing a thrust of 5,000 tonnes, according to ZPMC.

The new vessel can install pile foundations with a maximum weight of 700 tonnes and a diameter of 7 meters.

According to CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company, Erhang Changqing has an environmentally-friendly and intelligent design, with a hybrid power system including energy storage batteries, combined with permanent magnet motors.