(From http://english.cas.cn/) CAS is to build an advanced scientific research vessel named Shiyan-1 for multi-purpose marine surveys. Its commencement ceremony was held on 22 December, 2007, at the shipyard of Huludao in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The new vessel will be China's first large-scale SWATH (small waterplane area twin hull), with 2,500-ton displacement. It will serve as an experimental platform for acoustic and oceanic studies.

As the project's overseer, the CAS Institute of Acoustics (IACAS) will implement the task in collaboration with three other CAS bodies, namely, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanography, Institute of Automation and the Yantai Institute for Coastal Zone Research for Sustainable Development. At present, the construction is fully unfolded and the ship is expected to be launched in July 2008 and operational by the end of this year。