Xi lauds submersible’s achievement
CHINA’S new deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver) returned to south China’s Hainan Province on Saturday morning on board the scientific research ship Tansuo-1, after completing its ocean expedition.
The mother ship Tansuo-1 berthed and anchored in Sanya at 8:30am on Saturday.
President Xi Jinping sent a letter to congratulate on the successful completion of the 10,000-meter sea trial of Fendouzhe and its return to port.
Xi extended warm congratulations and sincere greetings to scientific researchers who are committed to deep- sea equipment development and scientific studies. He stressed that the development of manned submersible Fendouzhe and its sea trial represented China’s comprehensive strength in the field of marine high technology.
During the expedition which started on October 10, Fendouzhe successfully completed 13 dives, eight of which exceeded a depth of 10,000 meters in the Mariana Trench, the world’s deepest natural trench in the western Pacific.
At 8:12am on November 10, the manned submersible set a new national record by diving to a depth of 10,909 meters.
The expedition team overcame difficulties such as typhoons, rain and high temperatures, conducted multiple tests and obtained a batch of sediment, rock and seabed biological samples, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
A joint operation of Fendouzhe and the deep-sea video lander Canghai was also carried out during the expedition.
The successful sea trial verified the various functions and performances of the submersible as well as China’s breakthroughs in deep-sea equipment and technologies. It marked China’s entry
into the first echelon of deep-sea scientific research and provided strong technical support for the country’s subsequent deep-sea research.
The development of home-made Fendouzhe, which began in 2016, has involved nearly 1,000 scientists and researchers from about 100 research institutions, colleges and enterprises. Fendouzhe adopts a safe and powerful energy system, an advanced control system, and a positioning system. Its cabin and buoyancy materials are more pressure-resistant compared with its predecessors.
In July 2010, China’s first selfdeveloped deep- sea manned submersible, Jiaolong, reached 3,759 meters beneath the waves.
It made China the fifth country, following the United States, France, Russia, and Japan, to have the technology for a submersible dive to more than 3,500 meters below sea level.
Designed to dive to a depth of 7,000 meters, Jiaolong set a diving record of 7,062 meters in the Mariana Trench in June 2012.
From manned submersibles Jiaolong, Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) to Fendouzhe, Chinese researchers have practiced the spirit of rigorous and practical thinking, teamwork and dedication, setting an example for sci-tech innovation, Xi said.
Xi hoped that all researchers working on deep-sea equipment and scientific studies would
continue to carry forward the scientific spirit and work hard to speed up the building of a strong maritime country and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and make new and greater contributions to humanity’s understanding, protection and development of the oceans.
With multiple breakthroughs in various key technologies, the Fendouzhe represents a milestone in the country’s endeavor into deep-sea exploration, said Vice Premier Liu He, who read out Xi’s letter. Liu added that efforts should be made to strengthen collaborative innovation between industries, universities and research institutes.