Guangzhou (TDI): In a major breakthrough for marine exploration, China’s first domestically designed deep-ocean drilling vessel, Meng Xiang, was officially launched in Guangzhou on Sunday.
Capable of drilling up to 11 kilometers beneath the ocean surface, the vessel marks a significant leap forward in humanity’s quest to explore uncharted depths.
Spanning 179.8 meters in length and 32.8 meters in width, the vessel is China’s largest scientific research ship, boasting a displacement of 42,600 tonnes.
With a range of 15,000 nautical miles and the ability to sustain operations for 120 days, the vessel can accommodate up to 180 crew members.
The deep-earth core samples retrieved by the Meng Xiang will provide invaluable data for studying plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient marine climates, and the origins of life.
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The vessel is the first globally to integrate multiple functions, including deep-ocean scientific drilling, oil and gas exploration, and natural gas hydrate extraction, Xinhua reported.
Following extensive sea trials, Meng Xiang exceeded its design expectations, according to Zhang Haibin, the vessel’s chief designer.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the vessel features a hydraulic lifting rig with a top drive lifting capacity of 907 tonnes, capable of oil and gas exploration as well as core sampling.
It supports multiple drilling and coring modes, addressing a variety of operational needs, from deep-sea resource exploration to geological research.
Additionally, Meng Xiang houses nine state-of-the-art laboratories covering geology, geochemistry, microbiology, and ocean science.
It also includes an automated shipborne core sample storage system—the first of its kind—designed to streamline marine research.
Built to withstand extreme conditions, the vessel meets safety standards for super typhoons and is capable of operating in rough seas.
Its design enables unrestricted missions across global waters.
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Traditionally, scientific exploration has been confined to the Earth’s crust, which averages 15 kilometers in thickness.
Beneath this lies the mantle, a key layer linking the crust to the planet’s core.
The commissioning of Meng Xiang brings researchers closer to exploring the boundary between the crust and mantle, known as the Mohorovičić discontinuity or Moho—a feat never before achieved.
