Chinese icebreaker Xuelong heads to New Zealand after operations at Qinling Station

China's polar icebreaker Xuelong, currently on the country's 42nd Antarctic scientific expedition, set sail for Lyttelton Port in New Zealand on Saturday after completing its tasks at Qinling Station.

During Xuelong's operations at Qinling Station, 38 team members were transferred to the station and 11 team members were brought back to the ship. The icebreaker successfully unloaded roughly 1,450 tonnes of scientific equipment, logistical supplies, engineering materials and fuel. Around 500 tonnes of construction waste and other materials were returned to the ship from the station.

The vessel also carried out aerial photography and oceanographic mapping as part of its scientific activities at the station.

Before departing from Qinling Station, Xuelong made a planned stop at Jang Bogo Station in South Korea to assist in the transfer of 21 expedition members. These members will also disembark at Lyttelton Port.

At Lyttelton Port, Xuelong will complete its resupply and crew rotation, picking up 34 expedition members before heading to the Amundsen Sea in Antarctica. There, it will continue its oceanographic surveys and monitoring missions.

Organized by China's Ministry of Natural Resources, the 42nd Antarctic expedition focuses on several key missions, including the development and system optimization of Qinling Station's supporting infrastructure, conducting comprehensive scientific surveys across multiple fields, undertaking major research and development projects, and testing new applications for domestically produced equipment and technologies in Antarctica.