China's autonomous submersible makes maiden dive

[Tresbon]

By PTI | 23 Dec, 2014,

BEIJING: China's deep-sea manned submersible today carried out its first dive in the southwest Indian Ocean to look for deposits of copper, zinc and other precious metals.

The submersible Jiaolong commenced its dive in hydrothermal area in Indian Ocean this morning.

China has already secured contracts to explore Indian Ocean for polymetallic sulphide ore and its research vessel has discovered two hydrothermal areas and four hydrothermal anomaly areas in February this year in southwest Indian Ocean.

Earlier, China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has described the discovery of poly metallic deposits in the southwest Indian Ocean as "beyond anticipation".

The SOA said that scientists onboard the "Dayang-1" research vessel also gained insights on the origins of carbonate hydrothermal areas and made successful attempts to explore for sulfide.

Hydrothermal sulfide is a kind of sea-bed deposit containing copper, zinc and precious metals such as gold and silver.

Those metals formed sulfides after chemical reactions and came to rest in the seabed in "chimney vents," state-run Xinhua news agency reported

Firming up its foothold in the Indian Ocean region, China has gained approval in 2012 to explore a 10,000 sq km polymetallic sulphide ore deposit in an international seabed region of the southwest Indian Ocean.

The 15 year approval was secured by China from the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

China has also obtained exclusive rights to explore a 75,000-square-km polymetallic nodule ore deposit in the east Pacific Ocean in 2001.

"Being the first task of Jiaolong's Indian Ocean mission, the main purpose of the dive is to test whether all parts of the submersible work well after a four-month-maintenance period," said Fu Wentao, one of the divers of Jiaolong, adding that the depth of the dive is around 2,700 meters to 3,000 meters.

"If the submersible is all fine and there is extra time left, we will carry out some scientific investigations," he said.

"Our scientists want to get some samples of rocks, biology and sulfide in the submarine hydrothermal area," Tao said, adding, "If we are lucky enough to find an active hydrothermal vent, we will try to get a sample of the hydrothermal fluid and test its temperature."

Jiaolong will dive 20 times to research polymetallic sulfides, biological diversity, hydrothermal microbes and genetic resources in the southwest Indian Ocean in a four-month-long mission, according to Yu Hongjun, chief commander of the mission.

Named after a mythical dragon, Jiaolong reached its deepest depth of 7,062 meters in the Pacific's Mariana Trench in June 2012 and started its five-year trial period in 2013.

 

[TaiShang]

China's deep-sea sub Jiaolong dives in Indian Ocean
(Xinhua)Updated: 2014-12-23 16:41


A sea lily is seen attached to a sponge in a deep-sea area in the Northwest Pacific Ocean on July 23, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]


ABOARD XIANGYANGHONG -- China's deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong carried out its first dive in hydrothermal area in the southwest Indian Ocean on Tuesday.

The submersible commenced its dive at 7:30 am local time (0330 GMT) and will return to theXiangyanghong 09 oceanographic vessel at around 5:30 p.m. (1330 GMT).

The crew included Fu Wentao, one of the divers of Jiaolong; Ye Cong, chief designer of Jiaolongand an employee of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp; and Tao Chunhui, researcher with the Second Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration.

Being the first task of Jiaolong's Indian Ocean mission, the main purpose of the dive is to test whether all parts of the submersible work well after a four-month-maintenance, Fu said, adding that the depth of the dive is around 2,700 meters to 3,000 meters.

"If the submersible is all fine and there is extra time left, we will carry out some scientific investigations," he said.

"Our scientists want to get some samples of rocks, biology and sulfide in the submarine hydrothermal area," Tao said, adding: "If we are lucky enough to find an active hydrothermal vent, we will try to get a sample of the hydrothermal fluid and test its temperature."

Jiaolong will dive 20 times to research polymetallic sulfides, biological diversity, hydrothermal microbes and genetic resources in the southwest Indian Ocean in a four-month mission, according to Yu Hongjun, chief commander of the mission.

Named after a mythical dragon, Jiaolong reached its deepest depth of 7,062 meters in the Pacific's Mariana Trench in June 2012 and started its five-year trial period in 2013.


China's manned submersible Jiaolong prepares to be released into the sea for scientific research from its carrier Xiangyanghong 09, July 16, 2014. Jiaolong and its support ship the Xiangyanghong 09 are on a scientific research voyage in the northwest Pacific Ocean, during which it will research cobalt-rich crusts and life forms inhabiting the bottom of the sea. [Photo/Xinhua]

***

China scientists build new camera to help discover mystery creatures of the deep

Mainland marine biologists hope project will help unlock mysteries of the ocean depths

• 

The Jiaolong submersible, China's deepest operating manned submarine


Scientists in Zhejiang province are developing a camera to capture images of rarely seen or undiscovered creatures living in the deepest oceans.

The camera will be able to operate at a depth of about seven kilometres and is part of a series of research projects by mainland scientists to probe some of the least-explored areas on earth.

The deepest known point on the seabed - the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench - is almost 11 kilometres deep. But even well before that depth, cameras struggle to operate in the complete darkness of the deep ocean, with the strongest lights barely able to illuminate beyond 10 metres.

A team at the Second Institute of Oceanography in Hangzhou is working on a camera that can take a series of three-dimensional images to build up a complete picture of sea creatures.

Two lenses mounted on different parts of the equipment would be able to pick out more detail than conventional underwater cameras, while taking accurate measurements of what was filmed, according to Professor Yang Junyi , a marine biologist heading the project.

"We are not building the camera to shoot 3D movies, so you probably won't be blown away by the visual effects of the final product. But it will be the most precise visual reconstruction ever of these elusive creatures," Yang said. "It may answer some of the biggest mysteries of the deep."

The camera will ultimately be mounted on deep-sea probes, including the Jiaolong, China's deepest-operating manned submersible which can dive to about seven kilometres.

The vessel has reported several sightings of mysterious marine creatures in recent years, Yang said, hence the need for a better camera to record them.

A decade-long international deep-sea survey completed in 2010 uncovered thousands of new species at depths once thought to be devoid of life.

Yang said there was intense scientific interest in the search for rare sea creatures, such as the giant squid filmed live for the first time in the Pacific Ocean by Japanese researchers last year.

China's involvement in the research would showcase the nation's maritime power and prestige, he said.

"To some extent it's gambling. We may record lots of sea creatures, but the chance of getting a glimpse of extremely large ones is very slim," he said. "But the money and effort is worth it because the prize is so big."

China's deep-sea exploration has focused almost entirely on minerals and energy resources, but in recent years the value of deep-sea life has been realised and funding increased.

Much of the research has centred on how deep-sea organisms survive in extreme conditions: at high pressure, with no light, low temperatures and sometimes high levels of toxic chemicals.

Scientists believed that an understanding of the biology of these creatures could unlock new technologies with industrial, medical and even military applications, Yang said.

Tian Xinming, a biologist at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xiamen , has been tasked by the government to study unknown microorganisms, including bacteria, collected by China's deep-sea probes over the past decade.

The aim is to exploit the genetic traits of these organisms that thrive in extreme conditions.

"There is unlimited potential for what these little life forms can do," said Tian.

Professor Zhang Xiaobo, a marine biologist at Zhejiang University, said his team was in a race with Western competitors to see if a cancer treatment could be developed by studying a deep sea virus.

The virus, called a phage, remains active and kills diseased cells under extreme conditions such as intense heat, leading scientists to speculate that it may complement other treatments to help contain the reproduction of cancer cells.


This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Scientists devise camera to find new sea species

 

[BoQ77]

China's deep-sea manned sub Jiaolong forced to surface after engine failure
Last Updated: 2015-02-01 05:39 | Xinhua

China's deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong suffered an engine failure in southwestern Indian Ocean on Saturday and was forced to surface ahead of schedule.

Before the sub reached the seafloor, Fu Wentao, who piloted Jiaolong, had received an insulation alert and managed to deal with the trouble.

"However, when we started to collect rocks and sulfide, we heard big noise from the sub. I thought the sub might collide with some seabed rocks, but the noise was still there when I took the sub away," Fu said.

Engineers on the support ship, "Xiangyanghong 09", believed that the noise might be an engine problem and the chief commander of the mission, Yu Hongjun, ordered to surface the sub according to safety regulations.

The malfunction was later confirmed to be the head engine failure, and the sub was pulled back to the support ship at 12:35 p.m. (GMT+4:00), five hours ahead of schedule.

"It's lucky that the sub stopped the mission in time and came up as soon as possible, or it might be in danger," engineers said.

Engineers are replacing the broken engine on Saturday night.

 

[BoQ77]

China's manned sub Jiaolong floats in ocean for whole night due to crane failure
2015-02-05 04:27:31 GMT2015-02-05 12:27:31(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

ABOARD XIANGYANGHONG 09, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong floated for a whole night in the Indian Ocean due to the breakdown of the crane on the support ship, before being taken back to the ship early Wednesday.

The crane could not take the sub back as its left motor broke down.Engineers fixed the machine at daybreak on Wednesday and took the sub back after it floated for 12 hours in the ocean.

The floating was aimed to prevent collision between the ship and the sub, which just finished a 10-hour dive with three pilots.

All three people in the sub were all right when they got to the ship. "We had faith that engineers on the ship would be able to take us back, and we chatted and slept for a few hours last night," said Chen Yunsai, a pilot trainee of Jiaolong.

"I am very hungry and it is lucky that we are not late for breakfast," said Fu Wentao, who piloted Jiaolong in this dive.

"The crane has never broken down before and we should learn a lesson from this serious accident," said Li Xiangyang, assistant commander of the expedition.

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

Mechanical failure happens everywhere, the Chinese crew handled the problems very well.

How would VIetnamese handle such a problem? Patch it up with banana leaves like on a sinking shrimp canoe?

 

[GoGetIt]

All things are difficult before they are easy,just keep fighting!

 

[Keel]

"The crane has never broken down before and we should learn a lesson from this serious accident," said Li Xiangyang, assistant commander of the expedition."

A valuable lesson to learn from with small payment of school fees

 

[BoQ77]

"The crane has never broken down before and we should learn a lesson from this serious accident," said Li Xiangyang, assistant commander of the expedition."

A valuable lesson to learn from with small payment of school fees

Good luck to Jiaolong sub !!!

 

[Viet]

Good luck to Jiaolong sub !!!

Don´t you have any fkcing else to do than posting chinese topics, just to draw fcking rediculous comments on our country and people?

Mechanical failure happens everywhere, the Chinese crew handled the problems very well.

How would VIetnamese handle such a problem? Patch it up with banana leaves like on a sinking shrimp canoe?

look at my avatar. I piss on it.

 

[BoQ77]

Don´t you have any fkcing else to do than posting chinese topics, just to draw fcking rediculous comments on our country and people?

I'm interested in how China made thing going on.

Do I have my own right to say everything I want?
Are you violating my right?

 

[Viet]

I'm interested in how China made thing going on.

Do I have my own right to say everything I want?
Are you violating my right?

if you haven´t noticed, this section is filled with 90% chinese topics, people don´t need more chinese created by you.

 

[BoQ77]

if you haven´t noticed, this section is filled with 90% chinese topics, people don´t need more chinese created by you.

I created vn thread as well

 

[Viet]

I created vn thread as well

it is best for all if you stop creating threads. how old are you? haven´t you noticed that most of your threads and even your posts are subjects to redilucous comments? don´t you feel any shame?

I hate it when other people laugh at our country and people, just because you create another thread on VN.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

I created vn thread as well

BoQ, I have been on this forum for a while now, and most of the time you report negative news on China. If I see that a thread is on China by you, it is almost confirmed that it has to be negative. Why not post good news as well? Also, ignore the negative comments about from some Chinese posters. This to and fro game of insult has to stop somewhere. Till now I have not replied to any provocation and have gradually observed people more willing to hear me out. Also be genuine. Remember, all people in this world are fundamentally the same, every person thinks that he is right in his mind.

 

[BoQ77]

That is news. I dont make up it. It would be good, or bad only in someone mind. That doesn't intend to insult anyone.
Its our chance to observe what really going on of a high tech equipment rather than just imagination of something never happen. It is similar to watch a rocket launch by NASA, it could be successful or failed. It is transparent, I highly appreciate that aspect, in recent incident made by China. For good news, actually it could be made up or intentionally created and spread out by the legion of Chinese members here.
Good and bad are two sides of everything, bad even better than good to help everyone improve. I myself appreciate anyone provides another side of our economy, army, community... as long as it reflect the truth.
Even the news Apple sells good is considered as bad news by several Chinese members here, while it helps create many jobs in China...
I admit that I am a poster of ugly truth, remember my thread " The ugly Vietnamese "?
I am responsible to all of my posts.

About ugly Vietnamese !!! Welcome all