China's new manned submersible passes safety test

SANYA - China's new manned submersible has passed a state safety test and is preparing for commissioning.

The manned submersible, named Shenhai Yongshi, or "deep sea warrior," is able to reach a depth of 4,500 meters.

Tang Leiping, senior engineer with the Shanghai Branch of the China Classification Society (CCS), said on Monday that the submersible was taken apart by a research institute of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) to undergo CCS's thorough safety test. No safety risks were found in the submersible's parts or components.

"The CCS safety approval will allow the machine to be insured, take part in international activities and scientific exploration," he said.

Tang said the submersible will complete an annual safety test after it is put into service.

In October, the submersible was loaded on board the ship Tansuo-1 to carry out its first deep sea testing mission off the shore of Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province.

The development of the submersible led by the No. 702 Institute of CSIC took eight years and involved more than 90 Chinese organizations and companies.

Currently in service is China's manned submersible Jiaolong, which set a record by diving 7,062 meters deep in the Mariana Trench in June 2012.