China’s new marine buoy says goodbye to classic Western design used since World War II

China has deployed a new intelligent ocean-observation buoy in the Yellow Sea off Shandong province. This six-meter-wide orange disc represents a departure from traditional Western marine buoy design, which has been in use since World War II, by abandoning its classic mooring architecture. Researchers from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have stated this is a first-of-its-kind innovation. The buoy has successfully completed sea trials and is now part of the Yellow Sea observation network, facilitating continuous, real-time monitoring of the entire water column. This development signifies China's advancement in oceanographic technology and data collection capabilities.