China Launched Its First Joint Scientific Exploration with Its Deep Submersibles in South China Sea

A scientific exploration was recently jointly launched with "Ocean No. 6" scientific research ship from Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey of China Geological Survey and "Tansuo-1" Scientific Research Ship from Deep Sea Science and Engineering Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In the exploration, carried by the two ships respectively, two 4500 meters-class deep-sea type submersibles, remote-controlled unmanned submersible, "Haima" and "Shenhai Yongshi", a manned submersible conducted a joint probe in the area of "Seahorse Cold Spring" in the west of Pearl River Mouth Basin in South China Sea. 

This is the first time for China to carry out a joint deep-submerging scientific exploration employing domestic deep submersibles with independent intellectual property rights.

Ocean No. 6 and Tansuo-1 met in the area of "Seahorse Cold Spring", and then jointly conducted three deep dives. With the strong operational capability, "Haima" comprehensively explored and took samples from the"Cold Spring"through diving with over 10 operational tools such as methane reef drills, side scans and image sonars, methane sensors and biological traps. With the capability of making detailed exploration and operation, "Shenhai Yongshi" tested the distribution scope, regional characteristics, topographic characteristics of the submarine "Cold Spring" and took samples. During the joint exploration, both sets of deep submersible systems monitored and recorded each other's operation in live time from different angles. 

Sources report that the deep-sea submersible is a crucial equipment to carry out the study of submarine "Cold Spring", which involves many scientific frontier fields such as resources, environment, and the origin of life and are current hot spots in international deep-sea scientific research. Both "Haima" and "Shenhai Yongshi" are the major deep-sea scientific and technological equipment independently researched and developed under the "863 Program" in the field of ocean technology, which are designed, manufactured, and operated independently by Chinese researchers.

From: Scientific and Technology Daily