In waters near Zhangzi Island in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, a yellow underwater robot moves steadily beneath the surface. With 12 thrusters, binocular cameras and a flexible robotic arm, it identifies sea cucumbers, sea urchins and scallops, then completes a grab within seconds.

The experiment, supported by Dalian Maritime University's smart ocean information technology innovation platform, shows how laboratory research is being applied to real production scenarios.

For marine ranches, such machines could change a longstanding model that relies heavily on divers, who are constrained by depth, weather and safety risks.

Researchers said one vessel equipped with several robots could support round-the-clock operations with fewer workers, reducing both labor intensity and operational risk.

"Pain points in marine production are exactly where new quality productive forces can play a role," said Yuan Guoliang, a faculty member at the university's School of Information Science and Technology.

The team is developing underwater optical communication technology, using LED light to transmit data and video over short distances — a system researchers describe as a form of "underwater Wi-Fi". Such technology could help underwater robots work together more efficiently and reduce their dependence on heavy cables.

The same push toward practical application is being seen in intelligent shipping.

At the university's shore-based digital operation and control center for intelligent ships, the navigation status, engine data and surrounding sea conditions of China's Xin Hong Zhuan are displayed in real time. The vessel is the world's first intelligent ship designed for both research and maritime teaching practice.

Yin Yong, a professor at the university's Navigation College, said the system is not meant to replace captains, but to provide an additional layer of support.

"It can advise the captain on speed and course in real time," Yin said. "In open waters, it can also support autonomous navigation. The shore side and the ship side each have a system, and the two can work together."

This model of ship-to-shore coordination is viewed as a practical step toward intelligent shipping.

For ship operators, the value lies not only in remote control but also in better information. A vessel's operating condition could be monitored continuously, its route could be optimized, and risks could be assessed before they developed into emergencies.

Beyond intelligent ships, Chinese researchers are also working to reach deeper waters.

Li Wenhua, a professor at the university's Marine Engineering College, leads the development of full-ocean-depth winch systems that have already been used in China's deep-sea scientific research. The systems support seabed sampling, deep-sea towing and remotely operated underwater vehicle operations — tasks that are essential for marine research but difficult to carry out reliably in extreme conditions.

A winch system that his team has developed has retrieved samples from 7,762 meters below the sea surface. The team has also developed a full-ocean-depth electro-optical cable winch system and a full-ocean-depth trace metal CTD winch system, which have been tested in deep-sea and polar missions.

During one Arctic operation, the cable froze in temperatures of around — 30 C, and the equipment jammed. Li and his team worked in wind and snow for nearly two hours before the system was fixed. He later wrote a few words in his log: "Polar verification passed".

The note was brief, but captured the larger meaning of the work. Testing advanced maritime equipment not only in laboratories, but also in real conditions where it is expected to operate.