Qingdao City, Shandong Province, east China - May 6, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shots of wharf
2. Various of inauguration ceremony in progress
3. Various of vessels, building
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Su Xiaojiang, deputy director, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey (ending with shot 5):
"The operation of the wharf will provide strong base support for the Dayang Drilling Vessel, help accelerate the industrialization process of gas hydrate exploration and extraction in China, and promote the implementation of the international scientific plan for China-led deep-sea scientific drilling. It is of great significance to ensure the security of national energy resources."
5. Aerial shots of wharf
6. Sign showing safe working load -- up to 150 metric tons
7. Various of lighthouse on wharf; waves

A new dock for deep-water scientific research vessels was put into operation on Saturday in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, as a home port to China's ultra deep-water research drilling vessel for natural gas hydrate exploitation.

The dock, known as Dayang Drilling Vessel North Wharf, was inaugurated by China Geological Survey. With a total investment of 465.48 million yuan (about 67.36 million U.S. dollars), its construction began on March 25, 2021.

Covering 60 hectares of sea area with two 10.7-m-deep berths, the dock can meet the docking standards of scientific research vessels worldwide.

"The operation of the wharf will provide strong base support for the Dayang Drilling Vessel, help accelerate the industrialization process of gas hydrate exploration and extraction in China, and promote the implementation of the international scientific plan for China-led deep-sea scientific drilling. It is of great significance to ensure the security of national energy resources," said Su Xiaojiang, deputy director of Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey.

Dayang is China's first ultra deep-water expedition and drilling vessel. Designed and built independently by China, the vessel is used to operate in unlimited navigation areas in international waters, with a drilling capacity of more than 10,000 meters in the sea.