GUANGZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) — The cargo ship Yong Sheng, loaded with materials for China's Qinling Antarctic Station, left eastern Jiangsu Province on Wednesday for China's 41st Antarctic expedition.
The ship, operated by COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd, is carrying approximately 16,000 cubic meters of construction materials for the supporting infrastructure of the Qinling Station in Antarctica.
Measuring 155.95 meters long and 23.7 meters wide, the Yong Sheng, a 20,000-ton ice-class multipurpose vessel, has a deadweight of 19,000 tons, according to the company.
China's 41st Antarctic Expedition Team set sail on November 1, beginning a mission expected to last nearly seven months.
The expedition will be carried out by three ships, including the research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, as well as the cargo ship Yong Sheng.
In the coming months, researchers will build the supporting infrastructure of Qinling Station, study the impact of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem, and conduct international research and logistical cooperation.■
