Scientists are seen off as Chinese oceanographic research ship Xiangyanghong 03 leaves Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 14, 2018. Chinese oceanographic research ship Xiangyanghong 03 departed for the country's 50th ocean research expedition Saturday in the western and eastern Pacific Ocean. The ship left Xiamen with 160 personnel on board for a 150-day mission over 15,000 nautical miles. (Xinhua)

XIAMEN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese oceanographic research ship Xiangyanghong 03 departed for the country's 50th ocean research expedition Saturday in the western and eastern Pacific Ocean.

The ship left Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, with 160 personnel on board for a 150-day mission over 15,000 nautical miles.

The expedition will implement an agreement with the International Seabed Authority, carry out deep sea environmental protection research and, raise China's status in deep sea areas, according to the mission's chief scientist Huang Hao.

Xiangyanghong 03 entered service and joined China's oceanic research team in 2016. The 4,500-tonne ship has sailed for more than 60,000 nautical miles and carried out 11 expeditions on deep sea observation, acoustic environment, and environmental monitoring, etc.