- China is developing its first deep-sea tourist submersible, aiming for a 2030 launch, capable of taking explorers to depths of up to 1,000 metres.
- Engineers at the China Ship Scientific Research Centre in Wuxi, Jiangsu, have been working on the project for nearly four years, with a prototype expected by the end of this year.
- The submersible is designed to carry three passengers and one crew member, featuring a panoramic viewport, which is considered the most challenging structural element.
- This venture will allow China to compete with a small number of largely Western private companies currently dominating the exclusive deep-sea tourism industry.
- The development comes after the 2023 implosion of OceanGate’s Titan submersible, which killed five people and raised significant safety concerns within the deep-sea exploration sector.
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