Welding process and other aspects need urgent research and development

According to Tan Naofen, deputy director of the Information and Statistics Department of the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, the localization rate of China's marine engineering equipment steel has reached more than 90%, but some ultra-high-strength, special-performance steels still rely on imports. Moreover, the demand for offshore steel is limited, and the output of offshore steel used in steel mills does not reach economies of scale. The development and production of steel enterprises are more difficult and their enthusiasm is not high.

According to statistics, China's major offshore assembly manufacturing enterprises hold less than 100 offshore drilling platforms, which will be delivered within approximately three years. The annual delivery volume is about 30 to 40 seats/ship, and the annual average steel consumption is only 60 to 800,000 tons. Moreover, the characteristics of offshore steels are multi-category and small-batch. There are numerous offshore steel production enterprises in the country, which have low industrial concentration and scattered orders, and it is difficult for steel enterprises to achieve economies of scale.

Tan Naofen said that for offshore products, including jack-up platforms, semi-submersible platforms, and drilling vessels, due to its large number of steel plates of 420-690 MPa, it is required to provide welding electrodes and carbon dioxide cores with corresponding yield strength levels. Welding wire and submerged arc welding wire / flux. At present, most of the varieties of welding materials are imported, and China is in urgent need of supporting R&D in welding processes, materials, and so on.