China's top research vessel, Shenhai Yihao (Deep Sea No.1), has set sail from Qingdao for an ambitious 45-day expedition in the Western Pacific Ocean.
In this mission, the vessel carries the manned submersible Jiaolong, which will undertake 18 dives to gather deep-sea organisms, seawater, and sediments. This effort aims to deepen our understanding of the unique ecosystems surrounding seamounts.
Tang Dongmei from the Ministry of Natural Resources announced that the China-led Digital Deep-sea Typical Habitats Program received support from 39 countries. This first international voyage under the program includes scientists from Canada, Spain, Colombia, and other regions, fostering global collaboration in marine research.
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