QINGDAO — China’s first unmanned submersible capable of reaching 11,000 meters will attempt to reach that depth in the Pacific’s Mariana Trench next October, said a Chinese scientist on Oct 30.

Chinese researchers tested it at 4,000 meters in the South China Sea between Sept 26 and Oct 25, said Wang Fang with the Hadal Science and Technology Research Center at Shanghai Ocean University.

The test basically achieved its purpose, examined devices, trained operators and also revealed some problems, she said at an international maritime forum held in Qingdao City, Shandong province.

Chinese scientists will carry out manned submersible diving at a depth of 8,000 meters in 2018 and of 11,000 meters in 2019.

China’s manned submersible Jiaolong reached its deepest depth of 7,062 meters in the Mariana Trench in June 2012.