China's new deep-sea explorer Haiqin completes mission in South China Sea

China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), is recovered from the sea, onboard ship Zhong Shan Da Xue, in the South China Sea, Aug. 23, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]

ONBOARD SHIP ZHONG SHAN DA XUE -- China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), has successfully completed a deep-sea voyage in the South China Sea, scientists have told Xinhua.

The deep-sea electric ROV system named Haiqin, which was designed and built by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, reached a depth of 4,140 meters during the sea trial early on Saturday morning.

Equipped with high-definition cameras, robotic arms, sonar systems and sensors -- the ROV demonstrated capabilities including automatic heading control and precise hovering.

China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), places a marker on the seafloor at a depth of 4,140 meters, in the South China Sea, Aug. 23, 2025. [Sun Yat-sen University/Handout via Xinhua]

Research expedition members deploy China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), onboard ship Zhong Shan Da Xue, in the South China Sea, Aug. 22, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]

China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), is recovered from the sea in the South China Sea, Aug. 23, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]

Research expedition members work on the main deck of ship Zhong Shan Da Xue, in the South China Sea, Aug. 23, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]

Research expedition members of ship Zhong Shan Da Xue pose for a group photo with China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), onboard ship Zhong Shan Da Xue, in the South China Sea, Aug. 23, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]

Research expedition members work inside a monitoring power station of China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), in the South China Sea, Aug. 22, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]

Research expedition members watch and discuss footage sent back by China's self-developed Haiqin, a 6,000-meter deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV), onboard ship Zhong Shan Da Xue in the South China Sea, Aug. 22, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong]