China has launched a new research vessel ‘Zhang Jian’, designed as a mother vessel for ‘Rainbow Fish’ submersible.
According to Shanghai Ocean University, the vessel is 97 meters long, and 17.8 meters wide.
The vessel has been financed in total by private sector.
Zhang Jian is scheduled to depart on its first expedition in August in the New Britain Trench off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
During its first expedition the vessel will control Rainbow Fish on a 8,000 meters dive. If the dive succeeds the Zhang Jian should take the submersible on a 11,000 meters dive in the Mariana Trench by the end of 2016.
According to Chinese media reports, scientists plan to build another one manned and one unmanned submersible that could reach 11,000 meters over the next five years.
Subsea World News Staff
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