The Chinese research icebreaker Xue Long 2, owned and managed by the Polar Research Institute of China, is on its annual Arctic expedition, with approximately 100 expedition members on board conducting research on the geology and geophysics of the Arctic seabed, as well as investigating atmospheric, sea ice, and marine environments.
The vessel made a brief stop in the port of Murmansk on August 30 before heading towards the Arctic. According to tracking data, the icebreaker is set to arrive at its destination today, September 3, 2024.
Xue Long 2 departed from Qingdao, China, on July 2, 2024, and has since travelled to as far as 85° North latitude before stopping in Murmansk for a brief stay at the pier. This voyage marks a significant milestone as the first Chinese-built research icebreaker, following its predecessor Xue Long, originally built as an icebreaking cargo ship in 1993 and later converted into a research vessel.
The Xuelong is 167 m long, almost 23 m wide and the ice class is B1 level, it can break through 1.1m of ice, including 20 cm of snow by 1,5 knots continuously.
Uniquely capable of breaking polar ice at both its bow and stern, represents China's growing commitment to Arctic exploration. The vice director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, Tiejun Ling, highlighted the importance of international collaboration during this expedition:
We have joint interests and ways to develop cooperation further. We should design a system where Russian and Chinese researchers can visit scientific stations of our countries.
China's interest in the Arctic is part of a broader strategy, as noted during a visit from a Chinese business delegation to Murmansk in September 2023, when the governor of Murmask region said, "We are entering a new level of partnership with China." The collaboration extends beyond scientific endeavours, with Chinese company MCC International Incorporation Ltd will join the development of the Kolmozerskoye lithium resources in Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
As Beijing continues to invest in new vessels designed for navigating the remote and icy waters of the Arctic, the Xue Long 2 expedition underscores China's strategic push into the polar regions, driven by scientific, economic, and geopolitical interests.
It seems that this event has pushed forward pairing the Chinese Polar Silk Road and the Northern Sea Route despite quite a different vision of two countries on the Arctic development.
Source: The Arctic Century
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