Beijing: China would build an advanced science research vessel for deep sea exploration, said to be the biggest of its kind designed and built by the country's scientists and manufacturers.

The ship would be used for comprehensive and precise study of ocean hydrography, marine geology and sea environment with the equipment aboard consistently monitoring real-time environmental and ecological changes in deep seas, state media reported.

The country's top planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), has given its green signal for the new vessel whose construction was expected to be overseen by The Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Oceanography, Xinhua news agency said.

The vessel would weigh about 4,000 tons, CAS said on its website.

China's most sophisticated science vessel now Dayang Yihao, remodeled after a Russian vessel in 1994, is 104.5 meters in length and 16 meters in width with a water discharge capacity of 5,600 tons.

The most powerful icebreaker, Xuelong with a tonnage of 21,025, had conducted 24 exclusive polar investigation missions. CAS institute head Sun Song didn't disclose details on how much was needed to build the new ship.

China now has a fleet of more than 100 scientific survey vessels.

Source : PTI