Icebreaker helps push polar goals

BEIJING - A new icebreaker will be launched in 2013 to bolster China's polar research activities as the nation endeavors to become a major player in such scientific expeditions, a top Chinese oceanic official said on Tuesday.

The country currently has one such vessel, Xuelong or Snow Dragon, that conducts polar scientific expeditions. She was purchased from Ukraine in 1993.

"The launch of the new icebreaker means China will have at least two such vessels for Arctic and Antarctic expeditions at the same time," said Chen Lianzeng, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). He made the comments at a polar expedition conference on Tuesday.