Meng Xiang

The construction of the ship Meng Xiang, a key tool for scientific oceanic drilling, has been completed at a Chinese shipyard in Guangzhou. The ship is estimated to be worth $470 million, measuring 180 meters long, and operations will begin as early as next year. The ship, whose name translates to "Dream," is intended for the study of plate tectonics, ancient marine climate, and the life of microorganisms in deep rock formations. One of the most ambitious tasks will be the attempt to penetrate through the Earth's crust and reach the mantle - a boundary known as the Mohorovičić surface or Moho boundary.