Twelve underwater gliders developed in China are carrying out scientific observations in the South China Sea and sending back real-time data, according to a briefing aboard the research vessel Kexue on Saturday.

It is the largest group of gliders to perform simultaneous observations in the region.

The Kexue left Qingdao, Shandong province, on July 10 for a maritime scientific expedition. After completing the first part of the mission, it stopped on Friday in Xiamen, Fujian province, to resupply.