On August 9, the China Ocean 81st Voyage, organized and implemented by the SIO, departed from the dock of Zhoushan Base of the SIO on the “DA YANG HAO” scientific research vessel to conduct a comprehensive resource and environmental survey in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Senior Engineer Li Huaiming from the Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, MNR served as the chief scientist of the voyage, and the participants came from the SIO and 20 scientific research and technical support units at home and abroad.

In this voyage, resource exploration and environmental investigation tasks of Beijing Pioneer Polymetallic Nodule Mining Area will be carried out, equipment tests on China’s ocean exploration equipment “Manta” ROV and “Insight” AUV will be conducted, and the buoys of the Tropical Pacific Observation System (TPOS) will be maintained. During the voyage, there will also be a dragon course training for international students, which is the first international student maritime training carried out by Beijing Pioneer Company and the International Seabed Authority. Five international students from Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Argentina and other countries will participate in the training.

At the pre-voyage mobilization meeting, Director Fang Yinxia requested all personnel of the voyage to prioritize safety, strengthen the training process, strictly follow the regulations and norms, and ensure the safe implementation of operations. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Oceanic Affairs Administration, China Natural Resources News Office, Beijing Pioneer High-Tech Development Corporation and other units participated in the pre-voyage mobilization meeting.

Before the voyage, the “Blue Eyes in Action” public welfare and environmental protection activity jointly initiated by Beijing Pioneer High-Tech Development Corporation, China Natural Resources News Office and the SIO was held at the dock of Zhoushan Base. The theme of the activity was “Understanding the Deep Sea Ecosystem”, advocating to “Love the Sea Like Loving Our Eyes”. Primary and middle school students in Zhoushan participated in the site activity and painted pictures of marine life.