The shortage of wind power operation and maintenance vessels is spurring the development of new technologies, and autonomous inspection robots for offshore platforms have begun production.
2025-12-15
As China’s installed capacity of offshore wind power continues to expand, the shortage of wind power operation and maintenance vessels is becoming increasingly prominent.
As China’s installed capacity of offshore wind power continues to expand, the shortage of wind power operation and maintenance vessels has become increasingly prominent. According to industry forecasts, by 2030, China’s shortfall in offshore wind power operation and maintenance vessels will reach 500 ships, making it difficult for existing equipment to meet the demands of deep-water operations. This supply-demand imbalance is accelerating the development of technological innovations, and autonomous inspection robots for offshore platforms are emerging as a key breakthrough.
Take, for example, the “Hai Xun” series of AUVs developed by a Qingdao-based enterprise. This robot boasts deep-sea operational capabilities at depths of up to 3,000 meters and can be equipped with high-definition cameras, sonar systems, and robotic arms. It can autonomously patrol within a 200-nautical-mile radius around the South China Sea’s islands and reefs, performing tasks such as pipeline inspection and equipment maintenance. Its technological breakthroughs lie in two key areas: First, a bio-inspired propulsion system reduces operational noise, thereby avoiding disturbance to marine life; second, an integrated adaptive adhesion technology enables stable operation even in complex ocean currents, achieving a cleaning coverage rate of up to 95%—a 50% improvement over manual efficiency.
In the offshore oil and gas sector, the underwater robots developed by Tianhai Defense have been deployed for the operation and maintenance of the Panyu 11-12 unmanned platform. These robots can regularly inspect subsea equipment and use image recognition technology to precisely locate defects such as corrosion and cracks. Coupled with robotic arms, they can perform component replacements, reducing labor costs by 70% per operation. The introduction of such equipment not only alleviates the pressure caused by the shortage of operation and maintenance vessels but also accelerates the industry’s transition toward “unmanned and intelligent” operations. As the technology continues to evolve, autonomous inspection robots are expanding their reach from nearshore to deepwater environments, providing critical equipment support for the large-scale development of offshore wind power.
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