The scientific research vessel "Ocean No. 1" sailed from the dock of scientific research base of Beihai Branch of Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao on December 10, 2018, and would carry out its 52rd scientific expedition to the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean successively. The mission for this time would effectively fulfill China's contractual obligations with the International Seabed Authority, and support the U-shaped area eco-environmental survey plan across the western Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic.

The tasks for this cruise, approved by Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), were organized by China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA), and jointly implemented by the First Institute of Oceanography of MNR (hereinafter referred to as FIO), the Second Institute of Oceanography of MNR (hereinafter referred to as SIO), and the Beihai Branch of MNR (hereinafter referred to as Beihai Branch). A total of 311 members (including backup personnel) for the tasks of this cruise covering about 23,900 nautical miles are from 45 domestic organizations, including FIO, SIO, Beihai Branch, COMRA Office, National Deep-Sea Base Management Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Ocean University of China. They are expected to return to Qingdao in July 2019 upon completion of the tasks.

The cruise will carry out the important tasks of deep-sea resource exploration and development, and of deep-sea environmental monitoring and protection laid out in the "Jiaolong" deep-sea exploration program by the "13th Five-Year Plan" of China. It will be divided into Phases A and B, for a total of 230 days. Phase A lasting for 150 days and covering the first, second and third segments of the cruise is specifically implemented by FIO to carry out surveys, mainly in the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, on resources, environmental and biological gene resources and diversity, and to obtain environmental baseline data and samples in the survey area. Phase B lasting for 80 days and covering the fourth and the fifth segments of the cruise is specifically implemented by SIO to carry out comprehensive surveys, mainly in polymetallic sulphide contract area in the southwest Indian Ocean, to obtain samples and data for further understanding of the resources and environmental status in the contract area.