Construction of a suction bucket jacket foundation

On May 18, 2020, our company entered into a construction contract with China Power Construction Group East China Survey and Design Institute Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “East China Institute”) for the fabrication of suction bucket jacket foundations under the EPC general contracting project for Offshore Wind Farm Site II (300 MW) in Zhuanghe Waters, Dalian City, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

The Dalian Zhuanghe Offshore Wind Farm Site II (300 MW) project is located in the waters off Zhuanghe, Dalian City, Liaoning Province. It corresponds to Site II in the “Dalian Offshore Wind Farm Engineering Planning Report” and lies to the west of the planned Site III offshore wind farm in Zhuanghe. The wind farm is situated approximately 11 km east of Shicheng Island. Its northern boundary follows the 10‑m depth contour; to the east, it is about 1.5 km from the navigation channel, while to the west it lies more than 5 km from the Haiwangjiu Islands Marine Protected Area. The site extends roughly 10.3 km from north to south and 5.8 km from east to west, covering a total area of approximately 59.4 km², with nearly 48 km² of marine area. The center of the site is about 19.1 km from the coastline, and the installed capacity is 300 MW.

This time, the scope of construction for Jinzhong includes all work related to the fabrication of six suction bucket jacket foundations. It mainly comprises (but is not limited to) the following:

1. All work related to the procurement, fabrication, welding, testing, and coating of suction buckets, jacket structures, and associated components, as well as quality inspection and acceptance.

2. All work, including the procurement of the base‑top flange, the assembly and welding of the flange to the top of the jacket structure, as well as quality inspection and acceptance.

3. After the suction bucket jacket foundation is completed, coordinate to carry out the overall ship-loading operations.

The sudden outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 severely impacted the construction schedule of the project. Nevertheless, to ensure timely completion, all parties on site proactively addressed the multiple challenges posed by COVID‑19. Despite the short construction timeline and tight labor resources, they spared no effort to smoothly accomplish each milestone. In response to the actual construction conditions, the company’s project leadership team swiftly formulated a practical accelerated‑work plan, increased staffing across various roles, maintained continuous operations without pausing equipment or work fronts, and implemented 24‑hour shift rotations. With additional workers deployed, thorough technical and quality briefings were conducted before each process commenced, minimizing idle time and boosting efficiency. At the same time, management of on-site personnel was strengthened, and those who demonstrated diligence and outstanding performance were rewarded, thereby enhancing their sense of responsibility and motivation, ensuring construction quality, and safeguarding the project schedule. Currently, thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties involved in Jinzhong, the suction bucket jacket foundation construction project was completed in October 2021.

China’s offshore wind power is currently experiencing its fastest period of growth in history. The country has already become the world’s largest wind power producer. Today, wind energy ranks as the nation’s third-largest primary power source, behind only thermal and hydropower. With vast development potential and significant room for expansion, offshore wind power plays a crucial role in advancing China’s transition toward a safer, cleaner, and more efficient energy mix.

Zhuanghe City boasts 2,900 square kilometers of maritime territory and abundant offshore wind resources, making it well-suited for the development of offshore wind power. In recent years, Zhuanghe has prioritized the growth of clean energy industries, including offshore wind. Following several years of concerted efforts by the Zhuanghe Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, by the end of December 2019, all six wind farms previously planned in Zhuanghe’s waters had received approval, with a mandate to complete construction and connect to the grid within a few years. Across China, the development of offshore wind power is vigorously underway in Jiangsu Province, Fujian Province, Shandong Province, Guangdong Province, Zhejiang Province, Shanghai Municipality, Hebei Province, and Hainan Province.

Jinzhong Company enjoys a unique geographical advantage, highly skilled personnel, and powerful equipment resources in the fabrication of booster stations, jacket structures, and pile tubes for wind power projects. This successful collaboration with the East China Institute is of great significance: it not only marks Jinzhong’s first achievement in manufacturing offshore wind power equipment but also plays a crucial role in advancing the company’s industrial restructuring and transformation.