China's new deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe is being lowered into the water. [Photo/China Daily]
Wuxi proved its worth in scientific research and innovative development once again, as China's new deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe, or "Striver", set a national record after it dived to a depth of 10,909 meters on Nov 10 in the Challenger Deep, an 11,000-meter-deep chasm located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, according to China Central Television.
The submersible first broke the 10,000-meter milestone by descending 10,058 meters on Oct 27.
Fendouzhe is the world's deepest-diving manned submersible, capable of carrying up to three passengers to conduct scientific research in the deep sea. It is electrically powered and can operate for around 10 hours underwater.
Almost all of the vehicle's technologies and instruments were developed by Chinese researchers, according to the China Ship Scientific Research Center, a China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation affiliate in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province.
The project was launched in Wuxi in 2016 and undertaken by the scientists and engineers behind China's Jiaolong and Shenhai Yongshi (Deep-Sea Warrior) submersibles. The goal was to create a manned underwater vehicle capable of surveying the entire ocean. It later received the name Fendouzhe.
Local officials said that about 30 Wuxi enterprises have contributed to the research, development and production of the main equipment and software for Fendouzhe.
Fendouzhe left Wuxi after passing all 25 required tests in Fuzhou, Fujian province on June 21, with the full cooperation of related government departments in Wuxi.
Experts say deep-sea vehicles such as Fendouzhe can help collect samples and data from the deepest parts of the ocean for hydrothermal, geological and marine biological research, as well as study the human impact on the area.
