China Builds 78,000-Ton Floating Island Resistant to Nukes

China is making waves in maritime engineering with its ambitious plan to construct a 78,000-tonne floating island designed to endure extreme conditions, including nuclear explosions. The mobile, semi-submersible twin-hull platform aims to operate as a long-term, all-weather scientific hub in the deep sea.

The artificial island, officially named the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, will span 138 metres in length and 85 metres in width, with a main deck rising 45 metres above the waterline. Despite its enormous size, comparable to China’s Fujian aircraft carrier, it is engineered to house 238 people for up to four months without resupply.

One of the standout features is its ability to resist natural calamities. The platform is built to withstand waves of 6-9 metres and category 17 typhoons, making it resilient in even the harshest oceanic conditions. Researchers are incorporating advanced “metamaterial” sandwich panels, designed to absorb catastrophic shocks and convert them into gentler forces, protecting both personnel and equipment.

Although the project is positioned as a civilian scientific initiative, its design specifications borrow from GJB 1060.1-1991, a military standard for nuclear blast resistance. Critical compartments—including navigation, communications, and emergency power systems—are reinforced to survive worst-case scenarios.

Set for completion by 2028, the floating island represents more than a decade of research, development, and planning. The project team envisions it as a platform for deep-sea exploration, oceanographic research, and long-term residency in extreme environments.

Experts say such a facility could mark a significant step forward in ocean-based research infrastructure, bridging civilian science and strategic engineering. The blending of cutting-edge materials, structural resilience, and autonomous design positions the island as a unique milestone in global maritime projects.