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Icebreaker arrives in Australia through violent sea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-20 17:51

ABOARD XUELONG --Chinese icebreaker "Xuelong" (or "Snow Dragon"), Friday arrived in Australia on its way home, after fighting with terrible ocean surges in westerlies.

This November 24, 2008 file photo shows China's ice breaker Xuelong or "Snow Dragon" which was blocked by thick ice around the Antarctica during her 25th expedition to Antarctica. The ship arrived in Australia Friday on its way home. [Xinhua]

Related readings:  Ice breaker Xuelong blocked during Antarctica expedition  Xuelong arrives at Changcheng Station in Antarctic  Xuelong arrives at Zhongshan Station  China's 'Xuelong' to sail for Arctic Pole

The ship, carrying 140 members of China's 25th Antarctic scientific expedition team, is now at Australia's Port of Fremantle for refueling. It will leave for homeland on Sunday and is expected to arrive in Shanghai on April 10.

When sailing across the westerlies, Xuelong met huge ocean waves caused by cyclone. Xinhua correspondent on the ship said he felt the violent sway of the boat. Tables and chairs at the meeting room were flung into a mess and many team members got seasick.

The team has fulfilled the task of erecting a new research station at Dome Argus (Dome A), the pole's highest icecap at 4,093 meters above the sea level. It left China's Zhongshan Station for home on March 9.