China's first domestically built ocean drilling vessel — Mengxiang (Dream) — was commissioned in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on November 17.
Developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the vessel is designed for key missions such as oceanic scientific drilling, deep-sea oil and gas exploration, and gas hydrate extraction. With a maximum drilling depth of 11,000 meters, it will play a pivotal role in advancing deep-sea resource exploration.
With a length of 179.8 meters and a width of 32.8 meters, the ship can travel about 15,000 nautical miles (27,800 kilometers). It is equipped with a DP-3 dynamic positioning system based on a closed-loop power grid, enabling stable operations in level-6 sea conditions and survivability in level-16 super typhoons.
Mengxiang (Dream), China's first domestically built deep-ocean drilling vessel, berths at a port in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The vessel has set multiple world records. It features the world’s first hydraulic drilling rig capable of both oil and gas exploration and core sampling, integrating four operational modes and three coring methods. The vessel automates the entire core sampling, transport, and storage process, improving efficiency in hard rock drilling by 40 percent.
The ship is also equipped with the largest and most advanced onboard laboratory, capable of supporting real-time research across various marine sciences, including geology, paleomagnetism, and inorganic geochemistry. In addition, the use of a 30 MW closed-loop power grid and battery energy storage system reduces energy consumption by 15 percent, while its intelligent systems enable real-time data analysis, operational monitoring and seamless ship-to-shore collaboration.
Since the project’s inception, CSSC has coordinated 150 participating units and more than 3,000 workers to overcome 18 technical challenges, such as parallel assembly of giant sections and weight control. The team also pioneered 57 new techniques, including digital twin precision control and horizontal assembly of ultra-large derricks. These innovations have set a new benchmark for high-end marine equipment construction, completing the vessel in a record-breaking timeline.
The vessel significantly enhances China’s capabilities in deep-sea exploration and development, providing crucial support for its maritime power strategy and energy security.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
