BEIJING -- A Chinese research vessel left south China's Guangzhou City on Tuesday for a period of more than five months in which it will survey undersea resources and the environment in the Pacific Ocean, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) announced on Wednesday.

The vessel "Haiyang-6," or "Ocean-6," with an expedition team of 96 members onboard, is expected to return on Nov. 3 after completing surveys in the East Pacific and the Mid-west Pacific, the SOA said in a statement.

During the 160-day mission, the ship will study topography and samples of the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts of seamounts in the West Pacific to evaluate resources in the area.

In the East Pacific, the ship will explore polymetallic nodule deposits in the Clarion-Clipperton (commonly shortened as CC) zone and conduct a survey on new oceanic resources, the SOA said.

Organized by the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, the mission is intended to safeguard the country's rights and interests regarding international seabed mineral resources, according to the statement.