The Shenhai Yihao, also known as Deep Sea No. 1, has set sail from Qingdao in Shandong Province, marking the beginning of the 2024 Western Pacific International Voyage. This 45-day scientific mission aims to explore the depths of the Western Pacific Ocean.
Onboard the vessel is China's manned submersible Jiaolong, which will undertake 18 dives to collect deep-sea organisms, seawater, and sediments. These efforts are geared towards enhancing our understanding of the unique ecosystems and environments found on seamounts.
Tang Dongmei, a senior official from the Ministry of Natural Resources, highlighted during the launch ceremony that the China-led Digital Deep-sea Typical Habitats Program has garnered support from 39 countries. This international collaboration underscores the global commitment to deep-sea research.
As the inaugural voyage under this program, the expedition features scientists from Canada, Spain, Colombia, and other countries and regions, paving the way for future collaborative endeavors in marine science.
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China's Deep Sea No. 1 vessel embarks on expedition to Western Pacific
cgtn.com
