Chinese research ship completes maritime mission in Antarctica

QINGDAO - Xiangyanghong 01, China's elite scientific research ship docked at a port in Chile on Wednesday after completing a maritime research mission in the Antarctica, according to First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration.

During the 46-day mission, the ship conducted surveys in the Atlantic sector of the Antarctica in various fields, including marine geology, geophysics and environment, as well as seabed topography and mapping.

"In the central Drake Strait, the vessel completed comprehensive observation of oceanographic elements. This was the first time a Chinese research vessel has acquired an all-depth oceanographic observation profile in the key area of the Southern Westerly Wind Belt," said Li Tiegang, director of the Qingdao-based institute.

The vessel successfully put two sets of deepwater buoys in Powell Basin off the northernmost Antarctic Peninsula, which will help researchers observe flow velocity, temperature and salinity at different depths of the ocean.

The Antarctica mission was the fourth stage of Xiangyanghong's journey around the world, China's first maritime research expedition that integrates oceanic and polar research.

Departing from east China's Qingdao last August, Xiangyanghong 01 will cover around 35,000 sea miles in its 260-day expedition, and is scheduled to return to Qingdao on May 15.