Institute of Underwater Engineering

The Underwater Engineering Research Institute was founded in 1986. Its predecessor was Teaching & Research Section of Underwater Vehicle Design & Construction and Deep Submergence Research Division. The Institute is divided into General Design Research Division, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Research Division, Deep Submergence Laboratory, etc. Its subordinate Nan Yang International Underwater Engineering Inc. Serves as a window and bridge connecting both domestic and foreign markets.

The Institute has formed a technical echelon with high theoretical background and strong scientific research capability, including 6 professors, over 10 associate professors and senior engineers, 15 lecturers and engineers, and several technicians and senior workers. As one of the influential research and development bases of submersibles and underwater engineering both at home and abroad, the Institute has not only rich experience in general design, performance and structure of submersibles, but also quite good capability in the research of mechanical & electrical equipment of submersibles. Its 2000m deep sea environmental simulation installation and 40Mpa high pressure chamber can be used for research and development of submersibles’ various equipment and structure and it’s submersible maneuverability testing tank for research and experiment of submersibles’ performance. Marine Human Engineering Laboratory which is now in construction will undertake research in human factors and operation characteristics.

The Institute also offers both undergraduate and graduate programs (for doctoral and master degrees).

The main research and design areas are as follows: research and design of manned submersibles; ROVs and other underwater work systems; research and design of structure, performance, mechanical & electrical equipment of underwater carriers; reliability of ship systems, marine human engineering, etc..

The Institute was the major participant and technically responsible unit in the design and development of China’s first manned submersible. Since the reform and opening of our country, the Institute has made a break-through progress in the development and research of ROVs in cooperation with partners both at home and aboard. It has developed China’s first ROV "HR-01", ROVs of observation "JH-01", "SJT-5", 6000m deep sea observation system, ROVs of workhorse "SJT-10", "SJT-40", etc.. There ROVs are widely used in offshore oil exploration and in the inspection of inland reservoirs, river dams and submarine pipelines and highly appraised by customers.

The Institute has successfully developed various underwater hi-tec products, such as manned submersibles, ROVs, submarine cable burying devices, etc., among which the manned submersible "7103" has won National First Grade Prize for Scientific & Technological Achievement of China; ROV "JH-01" won Third Grade Prize for Scientific & Technological Achievement of Water Conservancy Ministry; other projects, such as "Mine-lifting devices", "Software for submarine Design", "Deepsea Envionmental Simulation Installation" have won the prize for Scientific and Technological Achievement of Navy and former Ministry of No.6 Machine Building Industry. "MG-1" Submarine Cable Burying System designed and developed by the Institute has won the Third Prize for Scientific and Technological Achievement of Ministry of Post and Telecommunication.

Areas for cooperation include:
    Research and development of various manned submersibles ROVs and other underwater installations;
    Design and contracting of various underwater working systems and surface supporting equipment;
    Contracting of research development, experiment, computation and consultation of ship and ocean engineering projects;
    Training of ship and ocean engineering operators and R&M personnel.