BEIJING - China's new self-developed oceanic research vessel has set sail to the South China Sea to conduct its first comprehensive sea trial, according to the Science and Technology Daily Monday.

The vessel named Dayang (Ocean) is designed by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

With a total length of 98.5 meters and a width of 17 meters, the ship has a designed displacement of 4,650 tonnes. It can operate at a speed of up to 16 knots and has a range of more than 14,000 nautical miles.

The vessel is equipped with an advanced propeller and highly-integrated control system. Its electric propulsion system is energy-efficient, low-emission and noise-reducing, the paper cited Yang Jun, the chief designer of the vessel as saying.