China just dropped a literal ocean-sized flex with its new Exploration No. 3 – a 104-meter scientific marvel designed to conquer Earth's most mysterious depths AND polar ice! Built by Guangzhou Shipyard International, this 10,000-tonne giant can sail 15,000 nautical miles while carrying 80 crew members. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of research ships: it smashes ice front-and-back, handles extreme conditions, and even supports deep-sea archaeology missions!
The vessel’s tech (fully developed in China
) solves tough challenges like ice-zone navigation and smart ship controls. Over 100 institutions teamed up to make this happen since 2022 – shoutout to Hainan Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences for funding this game-changer!
Why care? Exploration No. 3 now lets scientists dive ANYWHERE in the global ocean. From Titanic-level wrecks to hydrothermal vents, China’s ready to unlock the secrets of the blue planet. Who’s bringing the popcorn?
Reference(s):
China delivers self-developed deep-sea scientific research vessel
cgtn.com