China Relocates PMZ Structure to Weihai Shipyard

• CSIS analysis confirms that the Atlantic Amsterdam, a Chinese maritime management platform that was a point of tension between South Korea and China due to its unilateral placement by Beijing in the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), has moved out of the PMZ and arrived at a commercial shipyard in Weihai, China, on January 31.
• The Weihai shipyard, used for offshore oil rig maintenance, is located about 250 kilometers northwest of the Atlantic Amsterdam's position in the PMZ.
• South Korea welcomed the development, saying the platform "has long been a focus of concern," but China maintains the movement was made by a private entity to a civilian shipyard. More significantly, Beijing maintains that the official position regarding such structures in the PMZ remains unchanged.
• Two aquaculture cages, Shen Lan 1 and Shen Lan 2-unilaterally positioned by China in the PMZ-continue to operate in the area.

Satellite imagery and AIS data confirm that the Atlantic Amsterdam, a Chinese maritime management platform that was a point of tension between South Korea and China due to its placement in the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), has moved out of the PMZ and arrived at a commercial shipyard in Weihai on January 31. The Atlantic Amsterdam relocated out of the PMZ between January 27 and 28, 2026. Weihai shipyard, approximately 250 kilometers northwest of Atlantic Amsterdam's previous location in the PMZ, is a civilian shipyard that has previously hosted similar offshore oil rig structures.¹

The Atlantic Amsterdam was originally constructed as an offshore oil drilling rig before being converted into a multipurpose platform with six operational floors. Chinese media reports describe the platform as housing a marine science laboratory, a scientific research center, and a production management control center. Prior to its removal, there were plans to expand its functions, with a 2023 China Daily article describing the Atlantic Amsterdam as the "equivalent to building a new 'island' next to the [fishing] cage [Shen Lan 1 and Shen Lan 2]. With the platform as the landing point, more cages can be built around it…[and] the scale of deep-sea aquaculture can be continuously expanded."²

The relocation followed an agreement reached during a January summit between China and South Korea. When the structure began moving on January 27, South Korea welcomed the development, saying the platform "has long been a focus of concern" and calling its removal "meaningful progress." China, however, has emphasized that the decision to relocate the Atlantic Amsterdam was made by a private entity, stating that "China's stance on issues related to aquacultural facilities in [the] southern Yellow Sea remains unchanged…[and] the two sides are in close communication on maritime issues to properly manage differences."³

Regardless of whether the decision to relocate was diplomatic or a matter of opportune timing, relocating the Atlantic Amsterdam alleviates South Korea's most immediate concern. However, questions remain regarding the two aquaculture cages, Shen Lan 1 and Shen Lan 2, which continue to operate in the PMZ.

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