Look who is back! Da Yang Yi Hao, the Chinese “research vessel” is spotted once again , albeit this time the ship is seen moving away from Sri lanka. Earlier in May, the ship was reported to be moving towards Sri lanka from Strait of Malacca. Route forecast says that the ship is returning to Singapore after its trip to Indian ocean region.

Da Yang Yi Hao has been flagged for entering the Indian Ocean and India’s maritime vicinity, particularly in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, often coinciding with Indian military activities like missile tests.

The Da Yang Yi Hao (also referred to as Ocean One) is a Chinese research vessel built in 1984 by the Kherson Shipyard in Ukraine (then part of the USSR) and acquired by China in 1994. It is a general survey vessel with a displacement of 5,600 tonnes and a length of 104.5 meters. Refitted in 2002, it is owned by the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA) and based in Qingdao, Shandong. The vessel is equipped for marine geology and geophysics surveys, featuring an advanced imaging system for real-time ocean floor mapping and equipment for sampling seawater and seabed minerals. It has conducted significant missions, such as identifying hydrothermal vents rich in minerals at the Southwest Indian Ridge in 2007, leading to a 15-year prospecting contract with the International Seabed Authority. The ship has undertaken multiple global voyages, including a 380-day expedition starting in April 2012, focusing on polymetallic sulphides and biological resources. It carries advanced instruments, including remotely operated underwater vehicles.

May 2025: The vessel was reported heading toward the south of Sri Lanka from the Malacca Strait, entering the Bay of Bengal, raising concerns about potential espionage during India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor. It was noted for its ability to map ocean floors, track missiles, and detect submarine activity, which could support China’s strategic interests, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

2024 and earlier: While exact counts of crossings are not fully detailed in available sources, the Da Yang Yi Hao is part of China’s fleet of survey vessels frequently operating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Reports indicate it has been active in the IOR alongside other Chinese vessels like the Xiang Yang Hong series, with at least one confirmed presence in 2025 and suspected earlier activities in 2021 and 2023 near India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). These operations often involve seabed mapping and data collection relevant to military purposes, such as submarine warfare.Number of Crossings:

Precise data on the number of times Da Yang Yi Hao has “crossed India” (i.e., entered India’s EEZ or operated near its maritime boundaries) is not explicitly quantified in available sources. However, it has been documented in the Indian Ocean near India’s coast at least two to three times in recent years (notably in 2021, 2023, and 2025), based on reports of its activities in the Bay of Bengal and near Sri Lanka. These instances are often linked to strategic surveillance, and India monitors such vessels closely using naval assets like P-8I aircraft.