China's 'Deep Sea Warrior' Manned Submersible Craft to be Commissioned Soon

China’s new manned submersible craft, Shenhai Yongshi, or ‘Deep Sea Warrior’ will be commissioned soon. The craft has passed a state safety test.

The craft is able to reach a depth of 4500 meters. 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, Tang Leiping, senior engineer with the Shanghai Branch of the China Classification Society (CCS) was quoted as saying by Global Times Tuesday.

"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.