Key facts
- China has launched the engineering construction phase for a large floating artificial island.
- The island is described as aircraft carrier-sized and is intended for scientific research.
- The construction contract is valued at over 2.7 billion yuan ($405 million).
China has officially entered the engineering construction phase for a massive floating artificial island designed for maritime science infrastructure. The project, led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), involves a semi-submersible twin-hull platform. On October 18, SJTU signed a construction contract exceeding 2.7 billion yuan (US$405 million) with a shipbuilder affiliated with China State Shipbuilding Corporation.