Striver (bathyscaphe)

Chinese deep submergence vehicle

Fendouzhe aboard its mother ship Tan Suo Yi Hao

History
PRC
Name| Striver
Awarded| CSSC
Completed| 2020
Acquired| 2020
Commissioned| 2020
Maiden voyage| 2020
In service| 2020
Status| Active
Class overview
Operators| Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering as part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences[1]
Preceded by| Deep Sea Warrior
General characteristics
Displacement| 36 long tons (37 t)
Endurance| 6 hours
Complement| 3
Sensors and
processing systems| Various

Striver (Fen-Dou-Zhe; Chinese: 奋斗者) bathyscaphe is a type of deep-submergence vehicle built in the People's Republic of China (PRC).[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] It was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).[3][5] It can accommodate three crew members,[2][3][4][5] and is designed to reach depths of more than 10,000 meters.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Striver is equipped with two mechanical arms, seven underwater cameras, seven sonars, hydraulic drills, and other scientific devices.[2][9]

On 10 November 2020, the bottom of the Challenger Deep was reached by Striver with three Chinese scientists (Zhang Wei, Zhao Yang, and Wang Zhiqiang) onboard whilst livestreaming the descent to a reported depth of 10,909 m (35,791 ft).[10][11]

## Design

[edit]

In comparison to the earlier Deep Sea Warrior bathyscaphe that was 95% domestically built, Striver is 96.5% domestic,[5][7][clarification needed] but can dive more than twice as deep. A significant portion of the onboard equipment has to be allocated to support the dive.[clarification needed] In comparison to the ten-hour endurance of Deep Sea Warrior, Striver lasts for six hours.[2][3] Striver can dive and surface much faster,[4]and its crew compartment is built of titanium alloy Ti62A, specially developed for use on Striver,[8] and a new welding method.[clarification needed][4][5][7][8] It is equipped with cameras made by the Norwegian manufacturer Imenco.[12] The designer is Ye Cong.[4][7]The mechanical arms of Striver were developed by Shenyang Institute of Automation, and each is capable of handling 60 kg of weight.[9] The motherships of the Striver bathyscaphe are the same ones used for Deep Sea Warrior bathyscaphe: Chinese research vessel Explorer 1 (Tan-Suo 1, or 探索一号 in Chinese) and Explorer 2.[2][4][5][6][7][9]

## Specification

[edit]

Research Vessel Tan Suo Yi Hao is used as mothership for the Striver

Specifications are:[2][3][4][5][6]

* Weight: 36 ton
* Crew: 3
* Payload: 240 kg
* Endurance: 6 hours

## See also

[edit]

* Deep Sea Warrior – Chinese deep submergence vehicle
* Deep-submergence vehicle – Self-propelled deep-diving crewed submersible
* DSV Alvin – Crewed deep-ocean research submersible
* DSV Limiting Factor – Crewed deep-submergence vehicle
* DSV Shinkai 2000 – Japanese crewed research submersible
* DSV Shinkai 6500 – Japanese crewed research submersible
* Harmony – Chinese bathyscaphe class
* Ictineu 3 – Crewed submersible
* Jiaolong – Chinese crewed deep-sea research submersible
* Konsul-class submersible – Russian Navy deep sea submergence vehicle
* Mir – Self-propelled deep submergence vehicle
* Nautile – Crewed submersible owned by Ifremer
* Pisces IV – Three person deep submergence vehicle
* Pisces V – Deep-submergence vehicle
* Priz-class deep-submergence rescue vehicle – Russian submersibles
* Rainbowfish-class bathyscaphe – Chinese deep submergence vehicle
* Sea Pole-class bathyscaphe – Chinese bathyscaphe class

## References

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1. ^ "China's latest manned submersible Fendouzhe delivered". global.chinadaily.com.cn. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
2. ^ a b c d e f g "Struggler deep submergence vehicle" (in Simplified Chinese). October 6, 2021.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Struggler deep diving vehicle" (in Simplified Chinese). March 17, 2021.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Struggler deep submergence submersible" (in Simplified Chinese). November 16, 2021.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Struggler deep diving submersible" (in Simplified Chinese). November 28, 2020.
6. ^ a b c d "Struggler submersible" (in Simplified Chinese). January 21, 2021.
7. ^ a b c d e f "Struggler bathyscaphe" (in Simplified Chinese). December 7, 2020.
8. ^ a b c "Struggler DSV" (in Simplified Chinese). January 12, 2021.
9. ^ a b c d "Struggler" (in Simplified Chinese). January 12, 2021.
10. ^ "Chinese submarine reaches the deepest place on Earth". interestingengineering.com. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
11. ^ "Chinese Submersible "Fendouzhe" Descended to Earth's Deepest Oceanic Trench". sciencetimes.com. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
12. ^ "Imenco in the worlds deepest waters". imenco.no. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-28.