China’s new deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe, also known as Striver, returned to Hainan Province in south China on November 27 after completing its ocean expedition. The vessel set a national diving record of 10,909 meters on November 10 in the Challenger Deep, the deepest known point of Earth’s oceans, located at the southern end of the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.
The development of the home-made Fendouzhe began in 2016. It involved nearly 1,000 scientists and researchers from about 100 research institutions, colleges and enterprises. Compared to its predecessors, its cabin and buoyancy materials are more pressure-resistant. Besides, Fendouzhe has a safe and powerful energy system, and an advanced control and positioning system.
The successful sea trial verified the various functions and performances of the submersible and marked a breakthrough in deep-sea equipment and technologies. It also marked China’s entry into the first echelon of deep-sea scientific research and will provide strong technical support for subsequent deep-sea research.
This is expected to lead to the discovery of new marine organisms and ecosystems in the most inhospitable places on Earth, and deepen our understanding of the formation of tectonic plates, along with marine biology, chemistry and conservation. It will also unlock access to a wealth of natural resources.
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