China planning its deep-sea Dream

China plans to build its own ocean-drilling research vessel to enhance the country's exploration of deep-sea resources, according to an expert.

The vessel, dubbed Dream, would be the third in the world if completed, following the United States' JOIDES Resolution and Japan's Chikyu.

A feasibility study into the vessel's construction has already begun, according to Wu Lixin, head of the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, which is spearheading the project.