Chinese icebreaker Xuelong 2, currently docked in Thailand for a visit on its return voyage from Antarctica, has set a record of performing the longest single-ship mission in the history of China's Antarctic expeditions.
Xuelong 2 set off for the 41st Chinese Antarctic expedition from south China's Guangzhou on November 1, 2024. It has been on the mission for over seven months and sailed a total of more than 30,000 nautical miles for the Antarctic expedition.
Xiao Zhimin, Xuelong 2's captain, said the ship's long Antarctic voyage could be divided into five phases.
"The first phase began on November 1, 2024, with the departure from Guangzhou, heading toward Antarctica. After it performed icebreaking and pilotage for Xuelong and and completed goods and personnel transfer to the Zhongshan Station, it left the station in early December. The second phase started with the sailing from the Zhongshan Station to the Ross Sea, where we broke ice and navigated for the cargo ship Yongsheng, before we sailed on to the Qinling Station, where we carried out the goods and personnel transfer in late December, when we headed for Lyttelton Port in New Zealand," he said.
The third segment of Xuelong 2's voyage was after it picked up ocean scientific research team members in Lyttelton, it headed for the Amundsen Sea in Antarctica on January 9 this year. In mid-March, it completed the operations in the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea and returned to New Zealand for another crew rotation.
In late March, Xuelong 2 entered its fourth phase of the voyage, which is to conduct joint Antarctic autumn expedition in the Ross Sea. After completing this task on April 19, Xuelong 2 formally began its return sailing to China, initiating the fifth and final segment of the journey.
"The entire voyage, from departing the home port to sailing back home, covers a total of over 40,000 nautical miles, crossed the westerlies six times in a total period of more than seven months. It is the longest single-ship mission in the history of China’s Antarctic expeditions," Xiao concluded.
Chinese icebreaker 'Xuelong 2' completes longest single-ship voyage in Antarctic expedition
