China's first pelagic fishery resource research vessel – Songhang of Shanghai Ocean University – sailed off Luchao Port in the Pudong New Area on Wednesday, World Ocean Day, for its 12th scientific research mission.

Having finished 11 missions and traveled over 61,000 nautical miles, Songhang will conduct comprehensive research on fishery resources in the high seas of the Western Pacific for more than 100 days.

It carries 31 sailors and 27 researchers, including Ye Changxu, associate professor of Shanghai Ocean University College of Marine Sciences and chief scientist of the mission.