Published on : 05/07/2024
On July 5, 1976, the official media Xinhua News Agency reported that China's 10,000-tonne oceanic scientific research vessels, "Xiangyanghong 05" (向陽紅五號) and "Xiangyanghong 11" (向陽紅十一號) have successfully conducted China's first oceanic expedition in the Pacific Ocean.
Xiangyanghong 5 secretly departed from the Guangzhou port on March 30, 1976, with a grand ceremony held by research personnel for the journey. The next day, the similar-looking Xiangyanghong 11 also set sail from Huangpu Port in Shanghai.
The two ships met near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea to form China's first expeditionary convoy, setting multiple records such as the first time to venture out of Chinese waters, the first time to enter the Pacific Ocean, and the first time to cross the First Island Chain (第一島鏈).
The oceanographic expedition involved various fields such as oceanography, marine meteorology, marine chemistry, marine gravity, marine geology, marine topography, long-distance communication, and navigation.
Researchers analysed and studied the internal and external causes of meteorological changes in the Pacific, exploring objective laws to provide reliable bases for weather forecasting.
Moreover, all types of equipment and instruments used in China's first oceanic scientific research were designed, manufactured, and installed domestically in China. Tests have proven that they performed well and met design requirements.
