New record for deep-sea drill depth

London, April 30 (IANS) A Japanese research team has set a new record for deep-sea drilling depth, reaching 25,400 feet below the Pacific Ocean's surface.

The Chikyu, operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, was digging the seabed off Japan's north coast to take fault samples to study last year's earthquake and tsunami, The Independent reported Sunday.

Maritime organisations say the US vessel Glomar Challenger set the previous record of 23,130 feet below sea surface in the Mariana Trench in 1978.