An immersed tube floating transportation rehearsal for the Dalian Bay Undersea Tunnel project was recently completed, laying a solid foundation for floating transportation and installation of the tubes.

The first large-scale cross-sea tunnel cluster project in North China's waters, the 5.1-kilometer Dalian Bay Undersea Tunnel is made up of 18 large immersed tubes, the heaviest of which weighs about 60,000 tons.

The floating transportation is a key procedure of an undersea tunnel project and is difficult to conduct as the tubes are huge and the waterway is narrow.

Carried out by CCCC First Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., the transportation rehearsal lasted about 12 hours, during which JIN AN 2 and JIN AN 3 ocean engineering vessels simulated six procedures under nine operation conditions, covering floating transportation on the main waterway, stopping the vessel in the foundation trench and emergency measures when the vessel is off course.

The tunnel is expected to relieve local traffic pressure, optimize urban traffic structure and promote integrated construction of the two banks of the Dalian Bay when it is completed.

An immersed tube floating transportation rehearsal for the Dalian Bay Undersea Tunnel project is underway. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]