China's first domestically developed ocean drilling vessel "Mengxiang (Dream)" is set to begin its maiden voyage on December 22, 2023 in South China's Guangdong Province, according to China Geological Survey. Weighing 33,000 tons, the ship can travel 15,000 nautical miles and operate for 120 days without returning to ports. It has the deepest drilling depth in the world and features the world's largest shipboard laboratory with over 3,000 square meters. The vessel is equipped with advanced technologies for comprehensive monitoring of drilling and mining operations, and it is expected to support natural gas hydrate exploration and exploitation, thus improving China's energy self-sufficiency capability.