According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, on September 24, the "Shenhai Yihao" vessel, accompanied by the "Jiaolong" submersible, docked at the Tsim Sha Tsui ferry terminal in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. This marks the successful completion of the 2024 South Pacific International Scientific Voyage.

The 2024 South Pacific International Voyage set sail on August 10 and lasted for 45 days. During this time, it successfully completed 18 manned deep-sea diving missions with the "Jiaolong" and conducted over 30 routine survey tasks and a 1000 km multi-beam survey, resulting in the collection of hundreds of biological samples and fulfilling the voyage's mission.

This mission marks the "Jiaolong's" first international voyage, and it is also the first time that foreign scientists participated in its diving operations, reaching a maximum diving depth of 5,600 meters. This further reveals that seamounts in the South Pacific are hotspots for biodiversity, providing invaluable sample resources and critical data for deep-sea scientific research. It sets a new standard for the sustainable utilization of global ocean resources, ocean environmental protection, and promotes pragmatic international cooperation.

The 2024 South Pacific International Voyage is the first ocean international sharing mission under the "Digital Deep-Sea Typical Habitat" major scientific program, led by the China Ocean Administration and organized by the National Deep Sea Base Management Center. It involved 60 team members from various domestic and international research institutions, representing an important initiative in practicing the concept of a "community of shared marine destiny" and promoting the conservation and sustainable use of deep-sea biodiversity, showcasing a responsible image of our country on the global stage.