The world's first ever Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV), capable of going to depths of 7,000 meters, will be tested by China in the second half of 2007.

"The development of the manned deep sea diving machine which can cover 99.8 percent of the world's sea bed will help increase the range of China's deep sea research,"said Jia Yu, a researcher with the State Oceanic Administration.

The United States, Japan, France and Russia are the only countries that currently have DSVs but their maximum working depth is 6,500 meters.

The selection of personnel to man the DSV is underway in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao. Fifteen candidates have passed the first assessment and six of will be chosen to receive special training.

The development of the DSV began n 2001 as a key national science project. The research was mainly undertaken by the No. 702 Research Institute of the China Shipping Industry Corporation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2007)