The final joint of the submarine tunnel of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Project has successfully been hoisted into the sea by “Zhenhua 30”, the largest pontoon crane in the world. On the evening of May 2nd, the final joint was smoothly closed with E29 and E30 tube. In the installation and closure process of the final joint, No. 2 Company of CCCC (China Communications Construction Co., Ltd.) First Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., a local enterprise in Qingdao, took charge of technological control in vital process including immersion and precise positioning. The impeccable skill of these constructors was like “threading a needle in the sea” has increased another highlight for the construction of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

    With the length of 5,664m, the submarine tunnel of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is composed of 33 giant immersed tubes and 1 final joint, the longest highway immersed tunnel and the only deeply buried immersed tunnel in the world as well as the only immersed tunnel in Chinese open seas. In early 2013, the No. 2 Company of the CCCCFirst Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. started undertaking the task of immersed tube installation. Afterwards the company rapidly set up a “Qingdao Brand” craftsman team, successfully installed the first immersed tube on May 2nd, 2013 and finished the connection of the last immersed tube on March 7th 2017. The whole project lasted for 1,400 days and nights. In the deep sea as black as pitch with huge invisible currents and the depth of over 40m, 33 giant immersed tubes, the volume of which is equivalent to that of an aircraft carrier, successfully kissed each other. In addition, the connection precision is controlled within mm level and it is called “threading a needle amid high wind”. By utilizing the high-precision leveling monitoring system, the deep sea riprap leveling ship independently developed by No. 2 Company of CCCCFirst Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. has accomplished mechanized operation integrating rock riprap, leveling, and detection. It dramatically reduces the labor intensity and construction cost and fill in the blank of mechanized leveling technology in Chinese open seas under deep-water conditions.

    In recent years, the No. 2 Company of CCCCFirst Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. has been continuously improving technological innovation system, emphasizing edge technology research. So far the company has hundreds of crafts and construction methods winning state-level, ministry-level or CCCC awards for scientific and technological advancement and obtained over 100 national patents. The company currently has nearly 100 sets of advanced measurement and control system and test instrument. Many of them introduced and researched by it have reached the international leading level. Remarkable scientific and technological innovation capability has assured the successful construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuahai-Macao Bridge. Zhou Jianliang (The final joint has been successfully hoisted for the super project Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. In the photo the pontoon crane is slowly hoisting the joint. Taken by Fu Xuejun)