People see the "Xiangyanghong 09" off in Jiangyin, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 3, 2012. The "Xiangyanghong 09" scientific exploration ship, the mother ship of the Jiaolong, set off on Sunday for a 7,000-meter dive in the Mariana Trench region. (Xinhua/Han Yuqing)

Bid to break record will put China ahead in ocean exploration: Official

Jiaolong, the manned submersible, could put China at the forefront of deep-sea exploration if attempts to dive to 7,000 meters are successful this month, a senior official involved in the project said on Sunday.

The vessel's crew, who on previous missions passed 5,000 meters, will bid to make history with a series of tests in the Pacific Ocean starting June 10.

"If it reaches the new target, it will represent major progress," said Liu Feng, deputy director of China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, which planned the mission with the State Oceanic Administration.

"After the dive, Jiaolong will be put into use to conduct deep-sea scientific research, such as exploring for natural resources and underwater environmental surveys."

For example, he said, unlike other countries, China will be able to collect biological samples from the deepest parts of oceans.

"Some deep-sea natural resources could be utilized in our daily lives in the future, such as by the pharmaceuticals industry to develop new drugs," Liu added.

Xiangyanghong 09, the ship carrying Jiaolong, left the port city of Jiangyin in Jiangsu province on Sunday morning, heading for the Mariana Trench.

The submersible, which is 8.2 meters long and weighs nearly 22 tons, is scheduled to complete its first dive on June 10, with up to five more tests before the end of the month. It will return to China in mid-July.

Jiaolong submersible starts 7,000-meter dive

An oceanographic ship carrying China's manned deep-sea submersible left eastern port city of Jiangyin Sunday for the Mariana Trench to attempt the world's deepest manned submersible dive.

China eyes on deep-sea mining technology
 
Commercial deep-sea mining by China of polymetallic nodules that contain copper, nickel and cobalt among other key minerals, can begin as early as 2030, according to the former head of the State Oceanic Administration.

China's submersible completes test dive
 
China's manned submersible, the Jiaolong, is returning to shore after completing five test dives in the Pacific Ocean, reaching 5,188 meters during its deepest dive, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said Thursday.
 
Submersible Jiaolong reaches 5,188-meter test dive

Photo taken on July 28, 2011 shows the submersible Jiaolong. The Chinese manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong returned to its attendant ship at about 12 p.m. Thursday Beijing time after reaching a depth of 5,188 meters in its third test dive in the morning. The submersible took photos, shot video, and made a topography scan at the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific for about 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association)

Photo taken on July 28, 2011 shows the submersible Jiaolong. The Chinese manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong returned to its attendant ship at about 12 p.m. Thursday Beijing time after reaching a depth of 5,188 meters in its third test dive in the morning. The submersible took photos, shot video, and made a topography scan at the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific for about 3.5 hours.

Jiaolong starts third 5,000-meter test dive
 
A Chinese manned deep-sea submersible started its third  5,000-meter test dive in an international area of the eastern Pacific Ocean Thursday morning (Beijing time), said the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). 

Jiaolong sets off on historic mission
 
China's manned deep-diving submersible Jiaolong left Jiangyin in East China's Jiangsu province on board its mother ship Xiangyanghong 9 on Friday for a 5,000 meter dive in the Pacific Ocean between southeastern Hawaii and North America.