The China Ship-building Industry Corporation has confirmed it has accepted a contract to develop and build the world's first 10,000-ton class marine surveillance ship.

The contract is valued at 280 million yuan, or over $46 million, and includes the construction of another 4,000-ton surveillance ship. Tests for the ship's marine clutch have so far been successful.

If the rest of the massive vessel is fully completed, China will overtake Japan as owner of world's biggest surveillance ship.

Currently, the Japanese Coast Guard's Shikishima-class surveillance ship holds the record, at 7,125 tonnes.