China Begins Construction of 2,000 M-Long Deep-Sea Habitable Laboratory
07.03.2025
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The facility which scientists call a "deep-sea space station" is designed to study rare "cold current" ecosystems - areas of the seafloor where chemicals like methane and sulfides are released - and will house six scientists for up to a month, the South China Morning Post reported.
The monitoring will involve a network of autonomous underwater vehicles, surface vessels and seafloor observatories. The scientists also plan to study methane hydrate deposits, known as “flammable ice,” as well as deposits of rare metals such as cobalt and nickel, which are found in concentrations three times higher than on land.
The development of this deep-sea laboratory includes advanced engineering solutions, including the manufacture of large components from titanium alloy that can withstand high pressure and watertight hatches capable of receiving underwater vehicles at depths of 2,000 m.
While the Chinese center is focused on research the technology could also be used for deep-sea mining, oil and gas exploration and maritime security, particularly in the South China Sea, according to the reports.
The creation of a deep-sea research station under the South China Sea is one of the Most complex engineering structures in the world.
It is an important step in the study of the ocean and its resources.
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