China to Build 4,500m Manned Submersible

According to Xinhua, Chinese scientists launched a program to build a new manned submersible expected to dive as deep as 4,500mand capable of carrying out scientific research. The program was revealed by Hu Zhen with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, who is in charge of the technology development of the submersible program under the Ministry of Science and Technology, in an interview on board the Xiangyanghong 09, carrier boat of the Jiaolong submersible. According to the news agency, Jiaolong has dived successfully to a depth of 7,062m.
According to the report the Jiaolong will soon be handed over to the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association, and at that time study will focus on key technologies involved in the 4,500-m submersible.