China will work with British and American universities to research life in the deepest depths of the sea with the help of a manned submersible the country is developing to dive up to 11,000 meters under water. The Rainbowfish Hadal Life Science Research Center, which opened in Shanghai Tuesday, has signed agreements to establish a lab with Britain's University of Aberdeen and another with Hawaii Pacific University in the United States.
China on Saturday started building of the mother vessel for a 11,000-meter manned submersible as part of the country's deep-sea research ambitions. The ship, "Zhang Jian", named after the founder of Shanghai Ocean University, is 97 meters long and 17.8 meters wide. It has a designed displacement of around 4,800 tonnes and a 15,000-nautical mile endurance ability.