China launches first deep-sea drilling ship to explore the Earth's mantle

China has unveiled its first domestically designed and constructed deep-sea drilling vessel, Meng Xiang (Dream), in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The ship, capable of drilling to depths of 11 kilometres, marks a groundbreaking achievement in oceanic exploration and research. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

Spanning 179.8 metres in length, with a width of 32.8 metres and a displacement of 42,600 tonnes, Meng Xiang is China’s largest scientific research vessel. Boasting a sailing range of 15,000 nautical miles, 120 days of operational autonomy, and a capacity for 180 personnel, it sets a new global standard for deep-sea capabilities. 

Equipped with the world’s first hydraulic lifting system, the ship supports oil and gas exploration as well as core sampling, with a top-drive lifting capacity of 907 tonnes. This advanced technology enables four drilling modes and three coring methods, making it suitable for diverse missions such as deep-sea resource exploration and core sampling in oceanic environments.

Xu Zhenqiang, director of the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey under the China Geological Survey, emphasised the scientific significance of the ship. "The deep-earth core samples it retrieves will provide global scientists with direct evidence to study plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient marine climates, and the evolution of life. It will aid humanity in better understanding, protecting, and utilizing the oceans," he said.

Designed to withstand severe weather, including super typhoons, Meng Xiang can operate in extreme marine conditions and conduct missions across unrestricted oceanic zones.

The vessel’s launch represents a monumental step towards exploring the Earth's mantle beneath the crust, potentially reaching the Moho boundary, a frontier that connects Earth's crust and mantle layers. Traditionally, human activities and research have been limited to the Earth's crust, averaging 15 kilometres in thickness.

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