At 9:00 AM on 23 March 2018, Wenhai Project of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (QNLM), relying on the research vessel Xiangyanghong 18, started its Special Cruise for equipment sea trail from the port of National Deep Sea Center. The inauguration ceremony was attended by LI Tiegang, Director General of FIO, SONG Jinming, Deputy Director of Executive Committee of QNLM, ZOU Bo, General Manager of Qingdao Huayang Maritime Service Limited Company, and representatives from QNLM and FIO. WU Yongting, the Director of Vessel Management Center of FIO hosted the ceremony.

DG LI Tiegang of FIO checked the vessel with other representatives, and listened to the introduction of pre-sailing preparation from the chief scientist and captain. LI mentioned three “firsts” of this cruise in his speech, which are the first time for FIO to undertake missions from Wenhai Project of QNLM, the first time for Xiangyanghong 18 to do a special cruise featuring equipment sea trail, and the first time for Xiangyanghong 18 to reach the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean. He also proposed two requirements, which are the security of all crew members and scientists and the joint efforts made by various marine institutes. DG LI ended his speech with the best wishes for Xiangyanghong 18 and the sea trail.

 

Deputy DG SONG Jinming of QNLM and GM ZOU Bo of Qingdao Huayang Maritime Service Limited Company also delivered speeches. Besides, on behalf of 55 crew members and scientists of this cruise, the chief scientist REN Chong and Cruise Leader WANG Haiyuan made statements respectively to show their determination in uniting and hardworking, looking forward to a successful joinery and fruitful return.

Led by the R&D Center for Marine Instruments and Apparatuses of QNLM and undertaken by Xiangyanghong 18 of FIO, this cruise is scheduled to set sail from the port of National Deep Sea Center on 23 March 2018 and return to Qingdao on 22 April with a sailing duration of 30 days and voyage length of 4,000 sea miles. REN Chong, Director of R&D Center for Marine Instruments and Apparatuses of QNLM is nominated as the chief scientist while WANG Haiyuan from the Vessel Management Center of FIO is the cruise leader and temporary party branch secretary. 22 crew members and 33 scientists from 10 different institutes and universities including QNLM, Ocean University of China, Tianjin University, Shandong University, CSIC 710 Research Institute, FIO, etc. joined the cruise. This equipment sea trail will provide reference for marine tests and application of deep-sea equipment, help developing Chinese self-developed equipment and its industrialization, and enhance equipment’s R&D level and practicability.