Research Vessel Completes 156-Day Biological Expedition in Guangzhou

The Chinese scientific research vessel Tansuo-1 arrived in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on May 10, 2026, after completing a 156-day expedition to the Atacama Trench off the coast of Chile.

The voyage represented the first joint manned deep-sea expedition between China and Chile. The mission was conducted under the Global Hadal Exploration Program and was led by the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The expedition departed from Sanya, Hainan province, on December 6, 2025. During the 156-day mission, the vessel covered more than 40,000 kilometers, a distance equivalent to circling the Earth.

The mission involved a collaborative international team of 83 researchers from six countries: China, Chile, Germany, Denmark, Canada, and Spain.

Deep-Sea Operations and Technical Achievements

Central to the expedition was the crewed submersible Fendouzhe, which was carried aboard the Tansuo-1. During the voyage, the submersible completed 63 dives.

Of those 63 dives, 50 reached depths exceeding 6,000 meters. These operations allowed researchers to access the depths of the Atacama Trench, which is the longest ocean trench in the world and reaches depths of more than 8,000 meters.

The expedition’s focus on the Atacama Trench was driven by the area’s geological activity and biodiversity, which are cited as having immeasurable scientific value.

Scientific Findings and Objectives

Researchers utilized the dives to collect a large volume of geological and biological samples. The team also captured high-definition underwater footage of the hadal zone.

The data and samples collected during the mission are intended to provide a foundation for multidisciplinary research across three primary fields:

• Hadal geology
• Biology
• Environmental science

The mission is described as a demonstration of progress in international marine scientific cooperation and China’s involvement in global ocean governance.