China shipbuilders deliver nation's most advanced diving support vessel

The Hailong is seen in a sea trial in this undated photo. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

China State Shipbuilding Corp delivered the Hailong, or Sea Dragon, the most advanced diving support vessel China has ever built, to Jumeirah Offshore, a Singapore-based marine engineering company, in Guangzhou on Monday.

CSSC, a State-owned conglomerate and the world's largest shipbuilder, said in a statement on Monday that the ship was designed and constructed by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co in Guangzhou, one of its subsidiaries, and Shanghai Bestway Marine Engineering Design Co.

It said the ship is the most advanced and capable of its kind built by China and its delivery symbolizes the nation's breakthrough in the research and development of diving and deep-sea equipment.

According to the statement, the Hailong is 124 meters long and 24 meters wide. It is able to accommodate 120 crew members and diving operation personnel and can sail 45 days in a single voyage without the need to resupply.

The vessel is capable of supporting a total of 24 divers conducting operations 300 meters under the water.

In addition, the ship can carry two remotely operated underwater vehicles capable of diving to a depth of 3,000 meters.

China is one of a small group of countries in the world that can design and make advanced diving support vessels, which are very useful for scientific exploration, resource survey and development, and maritime rescue and salvage, according to the statement.