An advanced scientific research ship from China has anchored at Port Louis, Mauritius for supply following its over 30,000-sea-miles (55,560 km) sailing since May.

Dayang Yihao, or Ocean No.1, arrived here last Saturday from Auckland, a port city north of New Zealand, after a 39-day journey, during which it stopped several times for research activities, Captain Cao Yezheng told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"We need supplies of diesel, drinking water, food and fruits in order to continue our research work southwest of the Indian Ocean," Cao said,

The ship, one of the most modern deep-sea research ships in the world, left Guangzhou, southern China, on May 22, having visited Micronesia, Ecuador and New Zealand before it reached Mauritius.

Cao said the journey from New Zealand to Mauritius was the most difficult one in the last 25 weeks, during which it experienced typhoons and big waves.

However, he said, the scientists on board the ship had managed to finish their tasks and research work as planned.

It is scheduled to leave on Wednesday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2008)