CSCEC recently reached a major milestone in the infrastructure construction project of an industrial park for the integrated development of marine and energy in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Crews transported and installed the project's first 3,500-tonne caisson for the south breakwater.

The south breakwater will be 675 meters long. It uses a gravity caisson structure and will consist of 34 caissons, each weighing 3,500 tonnes. Once complete, the project will support a dock built to serve an integrated energy base combining offshore wind, solar and hydrogen power. It will also strengthen regional infrastructure capacity.

The caisson installed in this operation is part of the breakwater's main structural units. Its size and weight made the operation especially demanding. The project team conducted flotation stability calculations, analyzed tidal patterns and used GPS to ensure precise positioning. These measures helped ensure a safe and smooth installation.

Conditions at the site further increased the difficulty. The breakwater sits in open water far from shore, where construction is complicated and the caisson is heavy. The team developed a specialized installation plan to address these challenges.

Weather at the site is unpredictable, with shifting winds, waves and currents. As a result, there is only a narrow window for construction. The team closely monitored weather forecasts to identify the optimal window for installation. They also completed all ballast preparations, equipment checks and emergency drills in advance, enabling the installation to be completed safely within the limited window.