China's research vessel ends 101 day expedition in Pacific

BEIJING: China's most sophisticated research vessel Kexue ended its second expedition to the west Pacific today and returned to the city of Qinghao in Shandong Province, ending a 101 day voyage.

Kexue's two expeditions to the Yap Seamount sea area started in early December and took 101 days in total.

About 120 seamount animals were collected from depths of between 260 meters and 2,000 meters, along with a large number of rock samples.

All the samples were taken to the Chinese Academy of Sciences institute of oceanology, said Li Tiegang, deputy head of the institute.

The Yap Seamount is rich in mineral resources and ecological diversity, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The expedition will also improve knowledge on China's climate and natural disasters by shedding light on the interaction between the ocean and China's off-shore waters.

With a gross tonnage of 4,711, Kexue is 100 meters long and 17.8 meters wide.

With a cruising capacity of 15,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 15 knots, it can travel with a crew of 80 for 60 days.