Dayang Yihao is re-fuelling at a port on the Micronesian Islands.

China's Oceanic Research Ship, Dayang Yihao or Ocean No 1 in English, is re-fuelling at a port on the Micronesian Islands before continuing its global research mission.

The ship, undertaking China's first ocean research mission, set sail one month ago from the eastern Chinese port of Qingdao.

It will complete a one-year long voyage across the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It will search the ocean floor for new mineral deposits, especially cobalt ores, and identify deep-sea hot spots and study the creatures living there.

Scientists expect to find out why the creatures can survive such high temperatures, pressure and toxic liquids in those hot spots.

(CRI May 3, 2005)