China's first domestically developed ocean drilling vessel, "Mengxiang," is set to embark on its inaugural journey from South China's Guangdong Province. Weighing approximately 33,000 tons, the vessel boasts the ability to travel 15,000 nautical miles and operate for 120 days without needing to return to ports. It features the capacity to drill as deep as 11,000 meters in the sea, marking a significant milestone in China's deep-sea exploration capability.
The ship, which is currently undergoing preparations at the dock in Nansha district, is equipped with the world's largest shipboard laboratory spanning over 3,000 square meters and integrating advanced technologies for comprehensive monitoring of drilling and mining operations. Its first trial voyage mission is scheduled to commence on Friday, and it is expected to be fully operational by 2024. Additionally, the vessel is poised to support the industrialization of natural gas hydrate exploration and exploitation, thereby contributing to China's energy self-sufficiency capability.