China's carrier sails into new era

Tugboats steered the vessel out of the shipyard at about 6 am Wednesday, a source close to the trial run told the Global Times. A number of service ships accompanied the carrier on her maiden voyage.

The carrier took to sea without a naval code as it has not yet entered service, the source said. Some people in Dalian set off firecrackers to mark the event.

The Liaoning Provincial Maritime Safety Administration published a notice restricting navigation off the Dalian coast and in an area 13.25 nautical miles (24.54 kilometers) wide and 22 nautical miles long in the northern Yellow Sea and Liaodong Bay.

The restriction took effect Wednesday and last through Sunday, but there is no information available on how long the trial itself will last.

Military sources told the Xinhua News Agency that the trial is in line with the carrier's refitting schedule and will not last long. Refitting work will continue after the vessel returns to port.

Li Jie, an expert with the Naval Research Institute at the People's Liberation Army Navy, told the Global Times that the maiden trial is likely to involve tests of its power, weapons and control systems.

When contacted by the Global Times, the Ministry of Defense refused to elaborate on the first day of the trial, but said it would release more information in the following days.