The first modern Chinese marine research ship is expected to return to Qingdao today after 315 days of deep-sea research around the world.

The Da Yang Yi Hao, or Ocean No. 1, discovered a variety of new areas where the country could obtain minerals and energy.

Around 216 researchers participated in the expedition.

"We've found five more hydrothermal areas, among which two were discovered in the South Atlantic Ocean - and this is a breakthrough," Han Xiqiu, one of the eight chief scientists and the only female in the marine research team, told the Global Times.

China has already discovered 17 deep-sea hydrothermal areas, accounting for one tenth of the world's total.

The discovery of hydrothermal sulfide and other deep-sea chemicals are of great importance to scientific research as they signify potential mine resources.

The deep-sea life samples were taken for future biogenetic research.

"Currently, our oceanographic research level is lagging behind other developing countries. This could be a 30- year gap, which is hard to fill. Yet we make the best use of the technology we own and are making great progress. This is a good trend," said Zhou Huaiyang, the chief scientist in the fifth leg of the voyage.

"The ocean encompasses immeasurable wealth yet to be disclosed and developed. Although currently these samples and discoveries could not be di-rectly applied into industry, the long-term effects are huge to humankind," said Shen Jihong, vice-director in the First Institute of Oceanography at the State Oceanic Administration.

He added that the collected samples during the most recent voyage would be preserved in China Ocean Sample Repository, and researchers across China could apply to study them.

The ship left Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on July 18, 2009 and it has traveled 53,300 nautical miles with and crossed the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.

"During this time of surveying, the Indian Ocean was the toughest. We've experienced strong winds," captain Zhen Songgang explained.

"The strong gale in the seventh leg made the deep-sea work formidable, yet we finally made it and found a new hydrothermal area," he said.

The team for the first time has successfully used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)domestically created at Shanghai Jiaotong University.