I. Project Background and Significance
As China’s offshore oil and gas resource development continuously advances into deeper waters, the difficulty and complexity of subsea pipeline laying operations are increasingly heightened. During deepwater pipeline laying, the condition of the “touchdown point” – where the pipe first contacts the seabed – is directly related to the pipeline’s structural safety and service life. Traditional operation methods rely on multi-function support vessels (MSVs) carrying Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for monitoring, which not only involves risks of vessel cross-operations but is also costly and inefficient.
Against this backdrop, our company had the honor of providing the core Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Launch and Recovery System (LARS) solution for the major scientific and technological research project “Intelligent Monitoring System for Deepwater Pipeline Laying” undertaken by Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “COOEC”). After five years of development, the internationally pioneering “Hai Wei System” was successfully launched and sea-tested in May 2025, adopting an innovative technical approach of “USV + Autonomous & Remotely Operated Vehicle (ARV) + Repeater + Optical Communication” to achieve intelligent and unmanned operations for deepwater pipeline laying monitoring.
II. “Hai Wei System” Overview and Technological Breakthroughs
The “Hai Wei System” comprises the surface USV “Guardian”, the underwater ARV “Navigator”, a repeater, and optical communication equipment, designed for operations at 1500 meters. It provides high-precision positioning, intelligent recognition, remote control, and high-speed data transmission. The system achieves six major domestic technological breakthroughs:
Its innovations include China’s first deepwater pipeline monitoring USV; the first 1500-meter ARV with 3-knot current resistance and 10-day endurance; underwater optical communication for high-speed cross-platform transmission; an intelligent recognition system with 95% touchdown accuracy and centimeter-level precision; fully automated collaborative control between USV and ARV; and a highly integrated platform for real-time monitoring and scheduling.
III. The Key Role of Our Company’s LARS System in the Product
As a crucial component of the “Hai Wei System”, our company provided a high-performance Unmanned Surface Vessel Launch and Recovery System (LARS), responsible for the deployment and recovery tasks of the ARV and the repeater, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of underwater equipment in complex sea conditions.
System Function and Parameter Summary
| Maximum Safe Working Load: | 35 kN |
| Line Pull and Deployment/Recovery Speed: | 35 kN / 25 m/min |
| Cable Length and Diameter: | 2000 m @ 14.3 mm |
| Drive Method: | Hydraulic drive |
| Control Core: | PLC + Precision Touch Screen HMI, with proprietary control algorithms |
| Operation Mode: | Fully automatic one-touch deployment/recovery |
| Advanced Functions: | Constant tension control, Active Heave Compensation (AHC) (Compensation accuracy >95%, Response time <100 ms) |
| Protection Rating: | IP56, C5-M Marine Corrosion Protection |
| Optional Functions: | Heating/Freeze protection, Soft start, Water cooling system, Emergency release device, etc. |
Outstanding Product Advantages
Boasting high reliability in harsh seas, intelligent control with constant tension and heave compensation, and highly automated one-touch operation, the system ensures safe and efficient deployment. It also features strong environmental adaptability and remote real-time monitoring and data management capabilities.
Other Typical Applications
Besides deepwater pipeline laying monitoring, this LARS system can also be widely applied in:
- Deepwater oil and gas field development
- Deep-sea mining
- Underwater military operations
- Deep-sea scientific research
- Offshore wind farm installation and maintenance
IV. Project Significance and Our Company’s Outlook
Our participation in the national “Hai Wei System” project demonstrates our technical strength in high-end marine equipment. Through this project, our LARS system was rigorously tested in real marine conditions, fully validating its reliability, stability, and intelligence, and laying a foundation for product iteration and market expansion.
This success proves our capability to supply core equipment for major national marine projects, marking a leap from following to matching international peers in deep-sea technology. Our LARS system provided critical support for deepwater operations, reflecting the advanced level of domestic high-end marine equipment.
Moving forward, we will deepen cooperation with leaders like COOEC and optimize the LARS system for more complex deep-sea environments. We remain committed to supporting China’s marine development, scientific research, and national defense, contributing to the maritime power strategy.
We will accelerate market application of these technologies in offshore wind, deep-sea mining, and underwater exploration, providing global customers with high-performance solutions and building an international brand for Chinese marine equipment.
