China shipyard to build world's first deep-sea mining vessel

A Chinese shipyard has inked a deal with a Singapore firm to build the world's first deep-sea mining vessel, which is due to be delivered in 2017.

Wu Pingshan from Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., which is based in east China's Fujian Province, confirmed on Thursday that the contract had been signed with a Singapore company but declined to disclose the name of the contractor.

Wu said the vessel will be 227 meters long by 40 m wide, with living quarters for up to 180 people and a maximum cargo load of 45,000 tonnes.

The vessel with 30 megawatts of power can serve as a platform for seabed mining as deep as 2,500 meters, and will have a helipad.

Founded in 1866, the predecessor of Mawei Shipbuilding was Foochow Arsenal, China's earliest machinery shipbuilding company. It has now become a share-holding firm able to develop, build and repair vessels.