China will construct a moored marine seismic observation station in the Continental Shelf of East China Sea, an official from Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Seismology disclosed.

It will be the first such facility ever built to monitor seismic movements in the offshore areas of China.

"Carrying out seismic observations in sea water areas is of irreplaceable significance for understanding the development features of strong continental earthquakes," said the official while addressing a recent forum.

Apart from a number of mobile gadgets for observation, China has yet to build any stations for seismic observation or experiments, though strong earthquakes in offshore waters are a constituent part of the continental quakes, he said.

The anticipated observation station will be located 200 km away to the east of Shanghai and require construction of a well with a depth of 300 meters, and a moored multi-purpose platform.

"Completion of the seismic observation station in East China Sea will provide the government with references in drafting disaster control plans and help developers of major projects on the sea carry out risk evaluation and screening," said the official, who did not specify the date of the construction would start.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2006)