China's polar icebreaker Xuelong, on its 42nd Antarctic scientific expedition, set sail for Lyttelton Port in New Zealand on Saturday after finishing tasks at Qinling Station. The vessel handled crew transfers, unloaded supplies, and conducted scientific activities there. It will resupply and rotate crew in New Zealand before continuing to the Amundsen Sea.
China's polar icebreaker Xuelong, serving as the flagship for the nation's 42nd Antarctic scientific expedition, departed Qinling Station on Saturday, January 4, bound for Lyttelton Port in New Zealand. Organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the expedition emphasizes infrastructure development and optimization at Qinling Station, multidisciplinary scientific surveys, major research and development initiatives, and trials of domestically produced equipment and technologies in the harsh Antarctic environment.
At Qinling Station, the Xuelong transferred 38 team members to the site and retrieved 11 others. It offloaded approximately 1,450 tonnes of scientific equipment, logistical supplies, engineering materials, and fuel, while loading back around 500 tonnes of construction waste and other materials from the station. The icebreaker also performed aerial photography and oceanographic mapping as part of its scientific duties.
Prior to leaving Qinling, Xuelong made a scheduled stop at South Korea's Jang Bogo Station to facilitate the transfer of 21 expedition members, who will disembark in New Zealand. Upon arrival at Lyttelton Port, the vessel will undergo resupply and crew rotation, embarking 34 new expedition members before proceeding to the Amundsen Sea in Antarctica for ongoing oceanographic surveys and monitoring missions.
This leg of the journey highlights China's ongoing commitment to Antarctic research, supporting station operations and advancing polar science amid challenging conditions.
