BEIJING - China has built the first test base for unmanned ships, which will be operational at the end of this year, according to the Science and Technology Daily Monday.

The test base named Xiangshan Marine Scientific & Technological Port is located in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. It will create an innovation platform for the design, research and testing of unmanned marine systems and intelligent equipment.

The base will help develop the industrial chain of unmanned ships and foster research on advanced equipment manufacturing as well as new generation of information technology.

The base will occupy an area of 32,000 square meters and will include laboratories, test pools, a docking berth and sea trial area.

As a collective innovation platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area, the base is expected to boost the development of marine economy in the area, according to the report.