China to build manned submersible capable of reaching all seabeds

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China has begun to develop a manned submersible capable of taking a crew to all of the earth's seafloors, the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) said.

The project is led by the CSIC research institute that led the development of Jiaolong, China's first manned deep-sea submersible.

File photo from August 23, 2016 shows China's submersible sets new record as unmanned submersible dived a depth of 10,767 meters.

Jiaolong set a Chinese record in June 2012 by reaching 7,062 meters deep in the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench, allowing the vessel to conduct research and exploration on 99.8 percent of the world's seafloors.

The CSIC has also been developing a manned submersible that can reach a depth of 4,500 meters. It is now working on the final assembly and testing of the vessel.

File photo on August 23, 2016 shows China's unmanned submersible dived a depth of 10,767 meters, which sets a new record for the country, according to Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Meanwhile, a subsidiary of the CSIC is building a mothership, with a displacement of around 4,000 tonnes, for Jiaolong, expected to be put into service in March 2019.

(Source: Xinhua)