According to the South China Morning Post’s report, China is building a floating Island, a first-of-its-kind invention that can survive a nuclear explosion. The semi-submersible platform will be 78,000 tonnes and is described by Chinese scientists as a “far-sea floating mobile Island”.
The Island is being constructed to support long-term research in deep seas, and will be in service by 2028. It can also accommodate around 238 people for four months with no additional supplies. This makes it equal to a ship in terms of endurance level. The Island measures 138 meters long and 85 meters wide and has a twin-hull structure to stand against bad weather, high waves and even typhoons.
It’s a one-of-a-kind structure due to its mobility, which makes it withstand every situation, allowing a smooth and more accurate research. According to the SCMP, a senior scientist involved in making the structure, Lin Zhongqin, revealed that the team was working against time to ensure the timely completion of the island.
The nuclear-resistant panel in the structure is made from sandwiched metamaterials, and SCMP states that this component is added to transform shockwaves into a much slower and controlled compression, ensuring no risk of structure failure. The metal used for the panels has been selected after thorough research. Reports suggest that the project is listed under the 14th Five-Year plan as China’s scientific national infrastructure. SCMP, however, states that since the details of the project are of military standard with nuclear resistance, it can be used for multiple purposes.
Since the platform is mobile, it comes with additional advantages like lower cost and easier land reclamation, which many suggest can be used for deployment in the South China Sea. Additionally, it will also benefit China in deep-sea research as it aims to expand its ocean science.
