BEIJING - A new Chinese-built navy destroyer is being outfitted at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. Workers are installing conduits and cables in the 10,000-metric-ton vessel, Zhou Xin, a military representative stationed in the shipyard to oversee the building of the warship, was quoted by the People's Liberation Army Daily as saying.

"Putting the ship in the water is nothing more than building a roughcast house, while outfitting the vessel is like decorating the house," Zhou said in the PLA Daily report published on Friday.

The destroyer entered the water in late June, marking a milestone in improving the nation's navy armament system and building a strong and modern navy.

It will be equipped with new air defense, anti-missile, anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons.

Construction of the destroyer has focused on improving the ship's fighting capability, another military representative, Leng Jun, was quoted as saying in the report.

After soliciting opinions from military officers and soldiers, designers changed the original plan for helicopters on the warship, increasing the height of the cabins to improve the passing efficiency, the PLA Daily said.

A new welding technique was explored and used in building the outer hull, which was made of a new material, the report said.

To provide a more comfortable environment for soldiers on the ship, workers used new materials to protect against shock and noise and increased ventilation in the destroyer's living cabins.

The vessel will have to undergo testing, including equipment operation, berthing and sailing, before it is commissioned for use.

Xinhua