Second China-NZ Dive Reaches Ocean’s Depths
Xinhua/APP
Wellington: Scientists from China and New Zealand are conducting their second collaborative dive expedition, supported by the Global Trench Exploration and Diving program.
Launched at the beginning of this year, the three-month scientific voyage explores the geology and ecosystem south of New Zealand’s South Island. The first leg of the expedition was completed in New Zealand waters, and the second leg began on Friday.
This joint expedition follows the first manned deep-sea scientific voyage conducted in late 2022 aboard the research vessel Tansuo-1 and the manned deep-sea submersible Fendouzhe (Striver), operated by the Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
During the 2022 dive, one marine biologist from New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and two IDSSE submersible pilots explored the Scholl Deep, the deepest point in the Kermadec Trench, located north of New Zealand, about 10,000 meters below sea level.
Cruise leader Peng Xiaotong, a professor from IDSSE, emphasized that this expedition is not just a scientific endeavor but also a symbol of deepening collaboration between the two countries in science and technology.
“The second collaborative dive expedition aims to serve as an exemplar of international cooperation, fostering mutual understanding and advancing deep-sea science and engineering, particularly in exploring the world’s deepest oceanic regions,” Peng stated.
Du Mengran, chief scientist of the joint research expedition, highlighted the discovery of many new species in the trench. “This operation is in ‘the devil’s westerlies,’ and the harsh sea conditions pose an unprecedented challenge for us,” Du noted.
Ashley Rowden, NIWA’s principal scientist of marine ecology, praised the success of the first leg of the voyage as “quite extraordinary.”
“It’s heartening to see how much we’ve achieved in just over two years in terms of collaboration,” Rowden said.
Chinese Consul General in Christchurch, He Ying, emphasized the significance of Tansuo-1’s expedition, stating that it provides an essential platform for China-New Zealand marine collaboration, enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening the friendship between the two nations.
