China's first domestically designed aircraft carrier embarked¹ on its second sea trial on Monday from its shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning province.

 

中国第一艘自主设计的航母周一在大连完成第二次海试。
 

 

Videos and images published by Chinese media and weapons enthusiasts² showed that the giant ship, which has yet to be officially named but is widely believed to bear the name CNS Shandong, left the port of Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, its builder, assisted by several tugboats.

 

There appeared to be no aircraft or other large equipment on the vessel³'s deck.

 

Publicity⁴ officials from the People's Liberation Army Navy and China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, parent company of the Dalian shipbuilder, declined to comment.

 

The new carrier, the largest and most sophisticated naval⁵ vessel in China, was designed and built domestically, with construction beginning in November 2013. The ship was moved from dry dock to the water in April last year. It made its maiden⁶ sea trial in mid-May to demonstrate the reliability⁷ and performance of its propulsion systems.

 

A ship researcher from the Navy who asked not to be named said he expected the second sea trial to mainly verify the carrier's communication, navigation and other electronic and mechanical instruments.

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