COSCO Shipping sets new global heavy-lift record with world’s first 2,000 MW offshore converter platform Skid-On Operation
SHANGHAI : In a landmark achievement for the global offshore engineering and heavy-lift shipping industry, COSCO SHIPPING‘s semi-submersible heavy transport vessel XIANG TAI KOU has successfully completed the world’s first skid-on loading of a 2,000 MW offshore converter platform, establishing a new international benchmark in marine transportation and offshore construction.
The operation saw the loading of a massive offshore converter platform weighing approximately 28,000 tonnes, making it the heaviest stern-to skid-on load ever accomplished globally. The milestone highlights China’s growing capabilities in ultra-heavy offshore logistics and reinforces COSCO SHIPPING’s position as a leader in complex marine transportation solutions.
The converter platform, a critical component of large-scale offshore renewable energy projects, is designed to collect and transmit electricity generated by offshore wind farms to onshore grids through high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems. With a transmission capacity of 2,000 MW, the platform is capable of delivering clean electricity sufficient to power millions of households, supporting the global transition toward renewable energy.
The loading operation was carried out using an innovative stern-to skid-on methodology, requiring exceptional precision engineering, structural analysis, ballast management, and real-time monitoring. Moving a structure of this magnitude onto a semi-submersible vessel demanded meticulous planning and coordination among naval architects, marine engineers, offshore construction specialists, and heavy-lift experts.
XIANG TAI KOU, one of the world’s most advanced semi-submersible heavy transport vessels, is specifically designed to transport ultra-large offshore structures, including oil and gas platforms, offshore wind components, and other oversized industrial modules. Its advanced ballast control systems and expansive deck area enable the safe transportation of cargoes that would be impossible for conventional vessels to handle.
Industry experts have described the successful operation as a significant breakthrough for both the offshore wind sector and heavy marine logistics. As offshore wind projects continue to expand in size and complexity worldwide, the ability to transport increasingly larger converter platforms and foundation structures efficiently will play a crucial role in accelerating renewable energy deployment.
The achievement also underscores the rapid evolution of offshore wind infrastructure, where larger converter stations are becoming essential to support gigawatt-scale wind farms located farther from shore. By enabling the transportation of such massive assets, heavy-lift vessels like XIANG TAI KOU are helping reshape the future of offshore energy development.
With the successful completion of this record-setting operation, COSCO SHIPPING has once again demonstrated its engineering excellence and operational expertise, setting a new standard for heavy-lift transportation while contributing to the advancement of global clean energy infrastructure.
Key Highlights:
World’s first skid-on loading of a 2,000 MW offshore converter platform
Record-breaking 28,000-tonne stern-to skid-on operation
Successfully completed by COSCO SHIPPING’s semi-submersible vessel XIANG TAI KOU
Major milestone for offshore wind and HVDC transmission infrastructure
Demonstrates advanced capabilities in ultra-heavy marine transportation and offshore engineering
Supports the growing global demand for large-scale renewable energy projects
This achievement marks another significant step forward in the evolution of offshore logistics, renewable energy infrastructure, and next-generation maritime engineering.
