The Shenhai-1 oceanographic research vessel casts off from a port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on August 11, 2024 for a 45-day scientific expedition in the Western Pacific. The voyage marks the first time that China's deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong will carry foreign scientists, including those from Canada, Spain, and Colombia, for underwater operations. Photo: VCG