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China charts new course for polar research

By Zhang Kun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-09 08:56

SHANGHAI: Days before China's first and only polar exploration vessel sets out on its latest mission, the country announced plans to build a second such ship, which will hit the icy waters by 2012.

The idea was unveiled before Snow Dragon sets out on Sunday for China's 26th South Pole expedition.

Zhang Xia, an expert with the Polar Research Institute of China, said China's dependence on a single ship for polar exploration work has been a weakness in the country's polar exploration capacity.

Wei Wenliang, director of the Polar Expedition Office under the State Oceanic Administration, said the new ship will have a smaller tonnage than Snow Dragon, but more horsepower and a greater ice-breaking ability.

Snow Dragon, which was bought from Ukraine in 1993, has completed 12 trips to the South Pole and three to the North Pole.

Zhang said the ship lags behind vessels used by other countries in some areas, such as in ice-breaking capability and said it cannot access all polar areas as a result.

Wei said the new ship will join the sharp end of missions to the poles, while Snow Dragon will be able to take a step back and concentrate on a logistical role, such as the transportation of researchers and equipment.

"We will recruit international teams to produce a collaborative design and have the new ship built in China," said Wang Jianzhong, captain of Snow Dragon.

Snow Dragon's expedition to the South Pole will be its largest to date, with 251 members of the research team onboard, including three from Taiwan.

Wei said the trip will last about 180 days - scientists will conduct 59 research projects.

The team will carry out regular research work at the two stations of Changcheng (the Great Wall) and Zhongshan. But major scientific exploration work will be carried out at the third station, Kunlun, in the inland at Dome Argus, the pole's highest icecap, which is 4,093 m above sea level, as well as in the Grove Mountains.

Snow Dragon visited Taiwan in April at the invitation of Taiwan's museum of maritime biology and its aquarium.

"Taiwan scientists showed great interest in the expedition to the South Pole, and they wished to take advantage of Snow Dragon, so we decided to collaborate," said captain Wang.

Snow Dragon will have a female pilot during the trip for the first time. Xie Jieying, a 27-year-old teacher from Shanghai Maritime University, is one of 12 female members on board.

"This could be the most important experience of my whole life," Xie told China Daily yesterday. "Many of my students take jobs on ships, so my experience will be of great help in my teaching."

Xie has piloted a university research ship but has no experience in piloting through ice zones.

"But there are many very experienced sailors and staff members aboard Snow Dragon. I'm sure they will help me," she said. "My family supports my decision to join the expedition. They won't allow me to give up the opportunity. It will definitely be an experience of a lifetime."