A NEW mothership for China’s manned submersible Jiaolong successfully took to water in the central city of Wuhan on Saturday. Shenhai Yihao (DeepSea No. 1), is a comprehensive scientific expedition vessel as well as the country’s first self-developed, specially designed mothership for a manned submersible. It is expected to greatly improve the diving capacity of Jiaolong by support including on-site analysis of data and specimen, according to the ship’s manufacturer Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group under China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. The vessel measures 90.2 meters long and 16.8 meters wide. With a designed displacement tonnage of 4,500 tons, it has a cruising capacity of over 12,000 nautical miles, according to Chen Tao, board chairman of the ship builder. Compared with other motherships for manned submersibles in the world, Shenhai Yihao boasts larger lab space, lower underwater noise levels and new environmentally-friendly designs, said experts at the launch ceremony. (Xinhua) |