Concept image of what will be the country's largest marine scientific vessel. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Guangzhou Shipyard International Co and Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Unmanned System signed a deal over the weekend to build the country's largest marine scientific research vessel.

The vessel, which will be about 117 meters long, will have a maximum displacement of 10,100 metric tons and a draught of 5.4 meters, according to a statement released by GSI on Saturday.

At 21 meters wide and 9 meters deep, the vessel is designed to hold more than 600 metric tons of scientific equipment.

The vessel will have an electric drive and a 360-degree view cab. It will be equipped with a DP2 dynamic positioning system and meet the requirements of operating in Class B ice waters around the world, the statement said.

The vessel is also equipped with multi-beam, single beam, conductivity-temperature-depth instruments, depth sounders and other advanced scientific exploration equipment and instruments, giving it the functionality for multidisciplinary and comprehensive marine investigation.

Meanwhile the vessel will reserve space and interfaces for a number of pieces of scientific research equipment and instruments to help ensure it will have strong ability to expand its research and meet the marine research needs for China's future.

The agreement was signed by Li Shuo, deputy head of the Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Unmanned System, and Zhou Xuhui, deputy general manager of GSI on Saturday.

The institute is a public organization of the Shenyang Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Guangzhou city government and the Administrative Committee of Guangzhou's Nansha Development Zone.

Located on Longxue Island in Guangzhou's Nansha district at the mouth of the Pearl River, GSI, a Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed company, is one of the major shipbuilding bases in the country.

Guangzhou Shipyard International Co and Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Unmanned System sign an agreement to build the country's largest scientific research vessel on March 20, 2021. [Zhao Yunpeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]