China's first domestically developed unmanned survey ship has conducted its first test mission in the South China Sea, Chinese media reported on Thursday.

The 6-meter-long unmanned vessel, which was developed by Shanghai University and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry in Shandong province, took part in a recent China Marine Surveillance patrol of the South China Sea and collected operational data during the mission, according to Shanghai-based Jiefang Daily.

The ship carried out a survey around a number of reefs that belong to China, the report said.