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China completes supplies unloading in Antarctic

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-16 23:06

GREAT WALL STATION, Antarctic: The 26th Antarctic exploration team of China completed the task of unloading supplies on Monday and will bound for the Zhongshan Station soon.

Arriving at the surrounding waters of the Great Wall Station on early November 12 on the Snow Dragon exploration ship, the Chinese exploration team immediately began to unload supplies from the ship upon their arrival.

Working around the clock in two shifts, the team members saved half of the time previously scheduled for replenishment for the station.

Related readings:  Chinese ship arrives at Antarctica station with supplies  Snow Dragon leaves for 26th Antarctica expedition  China polar expedition mapping Antarctica  China to start 26th Antarctic expedition

Up to now, the supplies unloaded from the Snow Dragon included eight 88-cubic meters oil tanks, over 1,200 tons of food, construction materials and exploration equipment, as well as 300 tons of fuels.

Yuan Shaohong, head of the expedition team, said the completion of the unloading task has asserted them with confidence to successfully accomplish all the other tasks of the exploration.

The Snow Dragon, which is about to leave the Great Wall Station in a day or two if the weather permits, will head for Argentine's Ushuaia for fuel replenishment and the Zhongshan Station for the next phase of the exploration.

With more than 170 scientists, workers and crew members on board, the Snow Dragon left Shanghai on October 11 and was expected to set sail on November 21 for China's Zhongshan Station on Antarctica.