China State Shipbuilding Corp is constructing the nation's largest and most advanced research vessel, according to project leaders.

Construction of the ship, which will be named after renowned revolutionary and statesman Sun Yat-sen, started in late October at CSSC's Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai and is expected to take about two years, said Hu Keyi, head of the shipyard's science and technology committee.

Hu said the ship will have a displacement of 6,800 metric tons, making it the largest research vessel in China and surpassing the 5,000-ton Dongfanghong 3, which was also made by the shipyard and is operated by Ocean University of China in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Upon its completion, the ship will be delivered to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and will be used to carry out scientific expeditions and student training. It will carry modern scientific devices and high-performance servers and will be tasked with conducting surveys on water, atmosphere, ecological systems and resources, Hu said.