China’s icebreaker departs for 38th Antarctic expedition | Polarjournal
Chinese researchers bid farewell as the research icebreaker “Xue Long” departs for the 38th Antarctic expedition in Shanghai. (Photo: Polar Research Institute of China)

“Xue Long 2”, China’s first Chinese-built polar icebreaker, set off from Shanghai on November 23, 2021 for China’s 38th scientific expedition to Antarctica. This was reported by the Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The ship, with a 101-member team, will cooperate with another icebreaker “Xue Long” that set sail for the polar expedition on Nov. 5 with 154 members on board, the Polar Research Institute of China said.

During this scientific expedition, hydrological, meteorological and environmental studies will be carried out in Antarctica, as well as monitoring of new pollutants such as microplastics and drifting waste in the Antarctic Ocean.

Further, supplies, technicians and scientists are also to be brought to China’s Zhongshan Station n and Great Wall Station. The staff will be in charge of the stations for one year.

The two ships are scheduled to return to China in mid-April next year.

Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal

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