Chinese deep-ocean drilling ship brings home ‘precious’ South China Sea samples

Maiden expedition reaches 5,000 metres below the ocean’s surface and more than 850 metres below the sea floor

The 30-day expedition organised by the China Geological Survey tested the operational capabilities of the world’s most powerful deep-ocean drilling ship, according to a report published on Monday by the official ministry newspaper Science and Technology Daily.

During the voyage operated by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, the ship conducted drilling and sampling at two sites and obtained “a large number of precious core samples and data”, it said.