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Association aims to get divers in deep water

By Xin Dingding (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-06 09:26

China's diving and salvage contractors yesterday formed a trade association in a bid to boost their dwindling share of the domestic market.

Song Jiahui, director of the China Diving & Salvage Contractors' Association, said the group is designed to help local firms stay in touch with the latest developments in diving technology, boost international cooperation and give contractors a voice in the decision-making process on matters affecting the industry.

Speaking at a conference held to launch the association, Xu Zuyuan, vice-minister of transport, said the ocean industry is playing an increasingly important role in the national economy and is "irreplaceable and prospective".

"The association will be of great significance to the development of the domestic industry," he said.

According to official figures, the ocean industry is expected to grow to 3.16 trillion yuan ($452 billion) by 2010.

Song, who is also director of the salvage and rescue bureau under the transport ministry, said the association will help the government on matters of legislation and certificate recognition with other countries.

The demand for offshore divers to work on exploration and salvage projects has increased significantly in recent years. But a lack of cutting-edge equipment and technology has left domestic firms struggling to compete with overseas suppliers, insiders have said.

Some sources have said China is 20 years behind countries like the UK and Norway.

Yang Degong, an advisor to China Ocean Engineering Corp, told China Daily that while advanced technology allows foreign divers to reach depths of 300 m, divers in China can go only as deep as 120 m.

"China lacks mature saturation diving systems, which are essential for dives of 100 m or deeper. So although the country has at least 10,000 qualified divers, the numbers don't mean anything," Yang said.

As a result, foreign firms win most of the contracts for offshore exploitation projects, he said.