China's polar research vessel Xuelong has safely navigated through severe cyclonic weather in the Southern Ocean during its implementation of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition.
Sailing westward along the 61st parallel south, Xuelong is crossing the "Roaring Forties," a notorious stretch of ocean known for powerful westerly gales and intense cyclonic storms. It is expected to arrive in the waters near Zhongshan Station on Saturday afternoon.
Working in tandem, China's another icebreaker Xuelong 2 has already reached the area just offshore from Zhongshan Station, where it is currently engaged in icebreaking and cargo unloading operations.
After a brief stop in Hobart, Australia, Xuelong resumed its southbound journey, immediately confronting the first of several cyclones forecast along its path.
"There was a cyclone right along our route. So we reduced our speed to six or eight knots. If we had continued at 13 or 14 knots, we would have sailed directly into it," said Jia Peinan, the third officer aboard the Xuelong.
Despite the precaution, waves rose to heights of three to four meters, with the ship rolling sharply from side to side and electronic tilt monitors recording roll angles above eight degrees. Seasickness quickly became a common challenge for the crew.
Seasickness medication also became the fastest-depleting supply onboard, according to ship doctor Wang Zhenqian, who has treated a growing number of affected team members.
Weather forecasting has played a life-saving role in charting a safe course. Zhang Yunfei, a meteorologist from China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, discovered a high-latitude cyclone forming along the vessel's projected track.
Acting swiftly, Captain Zhu Bing adjusted the vessel's course to navigate along the eastern edge of the storm before heading west again.
"Weather support is absolutely vital for us. It affects everything from route planning to maintaining our speed and heading. With timely updates on where we might encounter heavy seas, we're able to take appropriate measures in advance," said Zhu.
Compared with previous expeditions in which the crew sometimes had to navigate through four or five overlapping cyclones, this leg of the journey has been relatively smooth, with only two major storm systems to circumvent.
China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team set sail from Shanghai on November 1 for a 19-month scientific campaign, which is scheduled to conclude in May 2026 with both vessels expected to return to China.
The expedition brings together a diverse team of over 500 members from more than 80 institutions on the Chinese mainland, alongside researchers from over 10 countries and regions, including Thailand, Chile, Portugal and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, fostering broader international scientific collaboration.
China's icebreaker Xuelong safely sails through cyclones on Antarctic mission
China's icebreaker Xuelong safely sails through cyclones on Antarctic mission
