Chinese research ship Xue Long begins 7th Arctic expedition
Vessel’s 128-strong team to be joined by US and French scientists on the 78-day voyage
The Chinese research ship Xue Long, or “Snow Dragon”, left a Shanghai port on Monday for the Arctic to carry out the nation’s seventh expedition to the polar region.
A large team of scientists would be carrying out research in areas including marine chemistry, ecology, geology, geophysics and sea ice dynamics, Xinhua quoted Xia Limin, an official at the State Oceanic Administration, as saying.
Xia, who is also the leader of the research team, said three scientists – one from the United States and two from France – would also join the 128-member team on the 18,500km journey, which is expected to take 78 days.
The American and French scientists would take part in ocean and environment research, a move Xia said would help “promote peace, stability and sustainable development in the Arctic region”.
In addition to areas covered by Xuelong’s previous Arctic expeditions, the ship will also visit the Mendeleyev Ridge in the Arctic Ocean.