Deep-sea research ship to sail soon

Multifunctional Tansuo 3 ready to enhance oceanic research capabilities

China will soon commission an advanced, multifunctional research ship that recently concluded its first sea trial.

The Tansuo 3, or Exploration 3, was jointly designed by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, China State Shipbuilding Corp's Guangzhou Shipyard International and other research entities. Its construction started in June 2023 at the shipyard, and the main body was completed in April.

The vessel underwent an eight-day trial voyage in late October and then returned to the shipyard for a final equipment installation and some fine-tuning. There are plans for the ship to undergo more sea trials, according to He Guangwei, deputy chief engineer of Guangzhou Shipyard International and the vessel's chief designer.