Xu Yihe
Asia correspondent at Upstream
Opinion

Steel without soul: China’s offshore boom masks a design deficit

Behind the gleaming hulls and towering cranes lies an uncomfortable truth: China needs to move beyond assembly lines

Hai Yang Shi You 981, China's first deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig, owned by CNOOC and operated by COSL, incorporates 60% foreign equipment
Hai Yang Shi You 981, China's first deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig, owned by CNOOC and operated by COSL, incorporates 60% foreign equipmentPhoto: COSL
Published 30 April 2025, 22:28Updated 30 April 2025, 22:28
ChinaAsia & OceaniaEast Asia