Amphibious assault ship finishes sea trial

Expert says 18-day voyage suggests good performance, sustainability of vessel

China's first amphibious assault ship has finished an 18-day maiden sea trial and returned to its shipyard in Shanghai on Sunday, according to footage and photos published on Chinese websites.

Video clips and pictures posted on Chinese news portals and military-themed websites showed the colossal vessel sailing back on Sunday afternoon to a berth at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a major shipbuilder under State-owned defense conglomerate China State Shipbuilding Corp.

The top of its superstructure was blackened by smoke from the chimney, according to the posted materials.