China’s fleet of three advanced manned submersibles has achieved a remarkable milestone by completing 1,746 deep-ocean dives, according to the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The announcement made Wednesday in Sanya, Hainan Province, highlights the growing capabilities of China’s deep-sea exploration program.
The three vessels—Fendouzhe (Striver), Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior), and Jiaolong—are projected to complete 314 dives during 2025 alone, demonstrating accelerated activity in underwater research. Each submersible has contributed unique achievements to marine science this year.
Fendouzhe made history by conducting China’s inaugural manned scientific expedition beneath the ice-covered regions of the Arctic Ocean. The same vessel also facilitated an international collaborative mission to New Zealand’s Puysegur Trench, located off the southwestern coast of South Island, marking significant progress in global oceanographic cooperation.
Meanwhile, Shenhai Yongshi has pioneered archaeological exploration in the deep sea, completing 18 dives along the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea. The submersible operated in coordination with unmanned underwater vehicles, leading to groundbreaking discoveries in deep-sea archaeology that reshape our understanding of maritime history.
The cumulative achievements of these deep-sea vehicles represent China’s growing sophistication in underwater technology and oceanographic research, contributing valuable data to the global scientific community while pushing the boundaries of deep-sea exploration capabilities.