China now has self-developed pipeline-checking vessel

China has put into operation its first self-developed marine pipelines-checking ship to help operate offshore rigs and protect the environment, the China Daily reported Friday.

The ship Ocean Oil 791 was delivered to China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) earlier this month by the shipbuilder, the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corp.

The electrically propelled ship is 66.3 meters long, with a maximum speed of 24 kmph and a sailing mileage up to 10,700 km in one operation, according to the newspaper.

Currently, China depends heavily on foreign companies for subsea pipeline inspections and maintenance, resulting in high costs and risks such as the exposure of sensitive information, it cited experts as saying.