China’s Research Vessel Kicks Off New Expedition

China’s most sophisticated research vessel Kexue (Science) departed from the eastern city of Xiamen on January 10 on a new expedition to a west Pacific seamount.

According to reports, the second expedition to the Yap Seamount sea area will focus on deep-sea environment and ecology, said Dong Dongdong, chief scientist of the expedition.

The vessel will carry 74 people on board, and it is expected to travel 6,000 nautical miles and return in mid-February.

“The expedition will improve understanding on the little-known seamounts, which are mountains rising from the bottom of the ocean without reaching the water surface,” said Sun Song, head of the Institute of Oceanology, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

According to Sun, it will also improve knowledge on China’s climate and natural disasters by shedding light on the interaction between the ocean and China’s offshore waters.

Earlier this month,the vessel completed its first Yap Seamount expedition, also China’s first on such landscape, having conducted missions such as deep-sea photographing and biological sampling. The Yap Seamount is rich in mineral resources and ecological diversity.

With a gross tonnage of 4,711, Kexue is 99.8 meters long and 17.8 meters wide. With a cruising capacity of 15,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 15 knots, it can travel with a crew of 80 for 60 days.

Construction of the vessel started after approval by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2007, with a total cost of 550 million yuan (86.4 million U.S. dollars). The ship was built by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Company and delivered in September 2012.