China's new deep-ocean drilling vessel aims to go beyond Earth's crust

China has launched the Meng Xiang, its first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel, capable of drilling up to 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) beneath the ocean floor. Officially commissioned in November 2024 in Guangzhou, the vessel is set to begin drilling operations in the South China Sea later in 2025, continuing through 2035. The Meng Xiang aims to advance understanding of the Earth’s deep interior, particularly the boundary between the crust and mantle known as the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho), which has previously been studied mainly through indirect methods like seismology and volcanic mineral analysis. The Meng Xiang is China’s largest scientific research vessel, measuring nearly 180 meters in length and displacing 42,600 tonnes. It features a first-of-its-kind hydraulic lifting rig capable of both oil and gas exploration and scientific core sampling, supporting four drilling modes and three coring methods to accommodate diverse geological conditions. The ship can operate unassisted for 120 days, has a range of 15,000 nautical miles, and houses nine advanced laboratories covering fields such as geology, geochemistry, microbiology, and ocean science. Additionally, it includes the world’s first automated shipborne core sample storage system and is engineered to withstand super typhoons, ensuring safe operation in extreme sea conditions. This vessel represents a significant step forward in marine science and technology, offering unprecedented opportunities to study the Earth’s deep ocean and interior.