Chase the Ice: Observation ship goes deep into Liaodong Bay to measure sea ice

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In some parts of Liaodong Bay, the sea ice is almost 30 centimeters thick. The local maritime department has been piloting ships entering the port to ensure their safety. There is, however, a group of people embarking on a contrary route. They go deep into the bay and chase after the thickest ice. Wu Haojun has more.

White… all white… Once the observation ship enters the sea ice area, this is the scene. Located in the Bohai Sea, Liaodong Bay has some of China's lowest coastal seawater temperatures and the heaviest sea ice coverage.

Compared with some other high-tech methods such as using satellites or drones, the advantage of the observation ship is its intimate contact with the ice. More accurate and direct data on the sea ice situation can be gathered and analyzed.

ZHENG PEINING, CAPTAIN OF SEA ICE SHIP OBSERVATION TEAM NORTH CHINA SEA MARINE FORECASTING CENTER OF THE STATE OCEANIC ADMINISTRATION "So far, we have traveled about six hundred sea miles and observed fifteen stations, amounting to almost fifty percent of our annual task."

In order to run the ship smoothly in the sea ice, workers must know about the ice's density, thickness and the ocean current. Unperturbed by frigid temperatures or the difficult task ahead they aim to go deep and far for the thickest sea ice. They do it all, to earn their name as the "ice chasers". Wu Haojun, CGTN.