Development of Resource Exploitation Equipment for South China Sea

South China Sea is the largest sea of China with over 70 percent of it being deep-sea area, which is rich in deep-sea resources, particularly oil, gas, and mineral resources. Besides, high temperature, high humidity, and high salinity are the major features that distinguish South China Sea from other sea areas. Therefore, it is of strategic significance to study marine equipment suitable for resource exploitation in South China Sea. This study first reviews the development status and trend of major marine resource exploitation equipment both in China and abroad, examines the development demand for and key technologies of resource exploitation equipment for South China Sea, and proposes the development goals and ideas for the equipment. Furthermore, several suggestions are proposed from the perspective of equipment and industry development. Specifically, a key technology research and development (R&D) center and an emergency rescue center for deep-sea oil and gas development, a R&D center for deep-sea mineral resource exploitation equipment, a deep-sea aquaculture demonstration and experimental area, and a national deep-sea comprehensive test site in the South China Sea are proposed to be built relying on Hainan Province, thus to gradually establish a national deep-sea science and technology innovation center, a national deep-sea engineering equipment support base, and a national deep-sea science and technology industry center.