China to build 74,000-ton self-propelled floating research island

China has awarded a $413 million contract for a self-propelled floating research platform for long-term deep-sea science. The catamaran, 453 feet long and 279 feet wide, will host six laboratories and up to 238 people; Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding will build it and Shanghai Jiao Tong University will operate it. Construction starts in 2028, with delivery planned for June 2030.

• Contract worth $413 million; displacement of 74,000 tons
• 453 feet long, 279 feet wide, top speed of 11 knots
• Six onboard laboratories; capacity for 238 crew and researchers
• Designed for 20–30-foot waves and Category 17 typhoons