Test field to gauge unmanned ships

Construction of a test field for unmanned cargo ships - the first of its kind in Asia - has begun in Zhuhai, a coastal city in Guangdong province.

The test field, located in the Wanshan Marine Area in Zhuhai, will cover 771.6 square kilometers, of which the first phase of 21.6 sq km will be used for debugging work and the second phase for performance tests, according to the Zhuhai government.

The test field is a joint program between the local government, China Classification Society, Wuhan University of Technology, and Oceanalpha - a Zhuhai-based company focused on unmanned surface vessel development.