Sinotrans Sarens completes weighing operation
Sinotrans Sarens completed the weighing operation for the Yangjiang Sanshandao 500 kV Offshore Wind Project, carrying out a 29.600-tonne converter station topside weighing for ZPMC Nantong.
The one-day weighing operation formed a critical control process for the shipping, installation, and structural safety stages to follow.
The operation refreshed Sinotrans Sarens’ previous record in giant-scale offshore converter station weighing. It follows Sarens’ earlier work on the Three Gorges Yangjiang Qingzhou Converter Station with a result exceeding 28.000 tonnes. With the Yangjiang Sanshandao weighing operation, Sinotrans Sarens further strengthened its reference in this specialised field.
The converter station, named “Haifeng Heart”, is described as the world’s largest offshore wind converter station. It has a 2 GW installed capacity and features a ±500 kV flexible direct-current transmission system for offshore wind applications. Once completed and put into operation, the project is expected to provide 6 billion kWh of clean energy annually, supporting the large-scale development of offshore wind power in China and contributing to the country’s dual-carbon goals.
The topside module is a seven-floor steel structure with an area of 7.000 m² and a height of 43 m, designed to be installed on a 75 m high, 13.600-tonne offshore jacket. Given the scale of the module, accurate weighing data was essential to support the subsequent shipping and installation stages, as well as the overall structural safety of the converter station.
The operation presented significant technical challenges. All weighing equipment had to be installed on 1 m high skidding tracks, with only 680 mm of available installation space. With both sides of the tracks blocked by support piers, the working area was too narrow for large machinery to enter.
To address these constraints, Sarens distributed the weighing equipment across multiple points on the skidding tracks. The system included 230 hydraulic jacks, 230 load cells, 32 displacement sensors and six pump stations. The placement of each component was precisely calculated and designed, with manual installation required for equipment weighing up to 450 kg.
The weighing system used synchronous closed-loop control, enabling balanced load distribution, real-time monitoring and intelligent adjustment during the operation. This ensured stable force distribution across the structure and reliable data feedback throughout the process.
The schedule was also demanding, as equipment installation had to be carried out between the client’s ongoing construction activities. The team completed installation of the full weighing system in 10 days, followed by half a day of joint debugging and calibration.
Through detailed engineering, precise control and coordinated execution, Sarens delivered a record-setting weighing operation for one of the most significant offshore wind converter station projects in China.
