China has unveiled its first-ever ocean drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to delve into the Earth's crust and explore the mysteries of the mantle.

• The vessel, aptly named "dream" in Chinese, represents a significant stride in deep-sea drilling capabilities, aiming to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity and reach where humanity has never ventured before.
• This endeavour, if successful, promises to revolutionize Earth science research, providing unprecedented insights into our planet's hidden realms.
• Measuring an impressive 179 meters in length and 32.8 meters in width, the Mengxiang boasts a staggering cargo capacity of 33,000 tonnes. Engineered to withstand the fiercest tropical cyclones, this vessel can navigate global waters, traveling up to 15,000 nautical miles and operating for 120 days per port call.