From PATYEGARANG to BARANGAROO: China delivers sister shield machines for Australia’s Western Harbour Tunnel Project

Henan Daily

Zhengzhou: What many may not know is that China’s largest-diameter shield machine ever exported has a twin, a “sister machine” built with the same cutting-edge technology.

The “elder sister”, PATYEGARANG, is currently en route to Sydney, Australia. Meanwhile, her “younger sister”, BARANGAROO, has made a striking debut in Zhengzhou.

On July 30, as the cutterhead commenced gradual rotation, the super-large-diameter shield machine BARANGAROO, developed by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. (CREG), successfully rolled off the production line at Zhengzhou’s National TBM Industrialization Center. This equipment and its sister machine PATYEGARANG launched in April, will jointly undertake the Western Harbour Tunnel project in Sydney.

Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel will feature a twin-tube, bidirectional roadway beneath the harbour—only the second such crossing ever built. Designed with an S-shaped alignment, the tunnel reaches a maximum depth of 52 meters below sea level and includes a tight turning radius of just 960 meters. It passes through complex geological conditions, including sandstone, silt, and mixed strata. The surrounding rock presents significant challenges, with uniaxial compressive strength reaching up to 30 MPa, and up to 80 MPa in certain sections.

Henan-made tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are breaking new ground—both at home and abroad. In recent years, as CREG has expanded its global footprint, it has closely aligned product development with international demand, advancing toward high-end, intelligent, and eco-friendly designs. Its global presence continues to grow, with a wide range of TBMs exported to more than 30 countries and regions. CREG has maintained the No.1 position worldwide in both production and sales for eight consecutive years.