VSM Qiming was launched at Shaft No. 2, which is a key TBM reception and relaunch chamber for the high-speed railway project.
The milestone also signals preparations for the relaunch of TBM Linghang.
The 14.25km-long Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel has three vertical shafts. Positioned only 200m from the southern embankment of the Yangtze River, Shaft No. 2 is being constructed under ultra-deep, water-rich conditions in a riverside floodplain.
CREG says VSM Qiming enables a submerged, fully-automated mechanical vertical shaft boring solution. With an excavation diameter of 24m and a maximum excavation depth of 150m, the VSM is designed for ultra-large cross-section, deep underwater shaft construction. It has a dual-arm structure integrating excavation, muck removal, and guidance functions, along with advanced technologies for posture adjustment, settlement control, and geological sensing.
CREG says these capabilities allow high-precision guidance and strong adaptability across soft soil, soft rock, cobble layers, and alternating soft and hard rock formations.
