Constructors are racing against the clock and took advantage of favorable weather conditions to advance the construction tasks at China's Qinling Station in Antarctica, the country's fifth research station on the continent.
Chinese research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, and cargo vessel Yong Sheng, which are on China's 41st Antarctic expedition, arrived at the Qinling Station on Dec. 25. Upon arrival, the team members carried out unloading operations and construction tasks.
Nearly 100 people will spend the summertime at the Qinling Station, including a large number of construction workers for welding, plumbing, electricity, and decorations.
The station, which started operation in February last year, will welcome its first overwintering team in 2025.
"The cable tray is a key task, as it is designed to serve during the wintering period. Only after the cable tray is in place can there be a guarantee of electricity supply, water supply, and wastewater disposal during the winter. The operation of photovoltaic system, wind turbines, and hydrogen energy system also rely on it," said Zheng Di, a member of China's 41st Antarctic Expedition team and the Antarctic project manager of China Railway Construction Group.
The highest temperature in summer at the Qinling Station is only around three degrees Celsius, which is five to six degrees Celsius lower than that of the Zhongshan Station, another Chinese research base in Antarctica. The strong and prevailing katabatic winds also have a direct impact on the construction progress of the station.
As a result, the construction team at the Qinling Station has to seize the opportunity of favorable weather during the summer, making every second count.
"We are significantly constrained by local environmental factors, including wind, snow, low temperatures, and ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, the conditions for on-site operations are also challenging. Our tasks are numerous and complex, covering an area of over ten thousand square meters across the entire station. It is a rigorous test for each one of us," said Wang Zhechao, chief of the Qinling Station of China's 41st Antarctic Expedition team.
The 41st Antarctic Expedition mission started on Nov 1 and will last nearly seven months and is being carried out by three ships, including Xuelong, Xuelong 2, and Yong Sheng.
During the expedition, researchers will build the supporting infrastructure for the Qinling Station, investigate the impact of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem, and conduct international research and logistics cooperation.
Construction of China's Qinling Station in Antarctica underway despite challenges
China is accelerating the commercialization of marine scientific and technological achievements and fostering new quality productive forces by boosting support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the marine sector, with a focus on investment and financing to drive industry growth.
The development of marine industries is marked by substantial investments, high risks, and slow returns. However, with strong national support, some companies, such as Zhejiang Startest Marine Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in east China, have achieved notable success.
The company is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in the independent research and development of underwater sonar detection equipment and underwater information data systems.
It now holds more than 210 intellectual property rights for its designs.
"We are now fully capable of replacing similar foreign imported products with our own ones, thereby overcoming the bottleneck in production caused by foreign product embargoes," said Su Xiaoyang, president of Zhejiang Startest Marine Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
While some marine SMEs, such as Shenzhen HiCloud Data Center Technology Co., Ltd., China's first underwater data center equipment and service provider, have mastered core technologies, a gap remains compared to international standards. As a result, continuous investment is necessary for them to overcome critical technological challenges.
"The Underwater Data Center Pilot Project is a new infrastructure initiative requiring a significant initial investment and scale effects. However, both users and investors in the market still lack a comprehensive understanding of the project's strategic significance, including the technical risks associated with emerging technologies," said Pu Ding, general manager of the Underwater Data Center Pilot Project in Hainan under Shenzhen HiCloud Data Center Technology Co., Ltd.
To address the challenges faced by marine SMEs in securing investment and financing, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), along with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, has organized a series of roadshows since 2016. Over 200 marine SMEs and innovation teams have participated, securing more than 3 billion yuan (around 409.8 million U.S. dollars) in financing.
In addition to these efforts, the MNR, in collaboration with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, launched China Ocean Economy Stock Price Index in 2024, covering 20 marine and related industries.
"This is the first domestic comprehensive index in the marine sector, covering all the markets of Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Hong Kong. It provides timely insights into the operational performance of listed companies in the marine industry and plays an important role in promoting the efficient allocation of financial capital to the marine real economy," said Feng Lei, deputy director of the Ocean Strategic Planning and Economic Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Small marine firms accelerate commercialization of sci-tech achievements under greater policy support
