In late April 2026, Shandong Future Robot’s fully self-developed VKG1100 Chain Trencher successfully completed its first sea trial in the Yellow Sea, marking a major breakthrough in subsea hard-rock trenching and submarine cable burial equipment.
During the sea trial, the VKG1100 achieved a trenching depth of 3 meters in a hard seabed environment with a maximum soil shear strength of 400 kPa, setting a new record as Asia’s most powerful and deepest-operating trenching system of its kind. The achievement demonstrates the strength of domestically developed equipment specifically engineered for the challenging conditions of Chinese offshore projects.
A Heavy-Duty Trenching System Built for Deep-Sea Operations
Positioned on the deck of the installation vessel, the VKG1100 immediately stood out with its robust structure and impressive size, representing a new generation of heavy-duty subsea trenching equipment.
Unlike jet trenchers, which rely on high-pressure water jets, the VKG1100 utilizes its substantial weight to counteract cutting reaction forces on the seabed. This enables the machine to maintain stable operation and high trenching accuracy while cutting through hard soils and rocky formations.
The sea trial also successfully validated the deployment and recovery procedures of the LARS (Launch and Recovery System), providing valuable operational experience for China’s first domestically developed heavy-duty chain trencher and further strengthening the supporting capabilities of the country’s offshore engineering industry.
Key Objectives Successfully Achieved During the Sea Trial
The sea trial focused on two critical performance evaluations:
1. Stable Mobility in Challenging Seabed Conditions
The VKG1100 successfully completed a series of operational maneuvers on clay seabeds, including straight-line travel, steering, and seabed climbing. The machine demonstrated excellent mobility by traversing slopes of up to 18 degrees.
As a heavy-duty subsea vehicle, the VKG1100 features an ultra-wide track design that significantly reduces ground pressure underwater, providing outstanding traction, stability, and terrain adaptability. The system also supports direct seabed landing and storage operations.
2. Heavy-Duty Trenching Chain Designed for Hard Ground Cutting
As the core working component of the machine, the trenching chain is manufactured using high-strength alloy materials specifically designed for heavy-load subsea operations.
Powered by dual hydraulic motors, the system delivers stable and powerful cutting performance, enabling efficient excavation through hard seabed formations and rocky layers.
A spoil removal system is integrated at the front of the trenching chain to effectively discharge excavated material, preventing accumulation and significantly improving trenching efficiency and operational continuity.
Designed for China’s Offshore Conditions, Driving Localization of High-End Equipment
China’s offshore geological conditions are highly complex, featuring hard clay, dense gravel, weathered rock formations, and coral reef environments. However, imported trenching systems often offer limited model options and insufficient adaptability, creating a significant challenge for domestic offshore construction projects.
In many hard-seabed applications, even internationally recognized trenching equipment has achieved trenching depths of only around 0.5 meters, falling short of the requirements of modern offshore infrastructure projects in China. As a result, the localization of advanced deep-sea engineering equipment has become increasingly important.
Through its commitment to fully independent research and development, Shandong Future Robot has engineered the VKG1100 specifically for China’s complex seabed conditions. The system matches—and in some aspects exceeds—the performance of comparable imported equipment, breaking long-standing technological barriers and filling a critical gap in China’s capability for deep, hard-ground subsea trenching operations.
A Solid Foundation for Future Development
The successful completion of the VKG1100’s first sea trial fully validated the reliability of the system’s overall design and core operational functions, providing a strong foundation for future optimization and commercialization.
Looking ahead, Shandong Future Robot will continue conducting additional sea trials and operational verifications under various working conditions, further enhancing system performance and reliability. The company remains committed to developing world-class domestically produced deep-sea engineering equipment that is better suited to China’s offshore environment while supporting the future growth of global subsea infrastructure projects.
VKG1100 Chain Trencher
Maximum Trenching Depth: 3 m
Maximum Tested Soil Shear Strength: 400 kPa
Application Areas: Submarine Cable Burial, Offshore Wind Farms, Oil & Gas Pipelines, Deep-Sea Infrastructure, Marine Engineering Projects.
