Shiyan 3 research vessel under the Chinese Academy of Sciences is dedicated for research studies at the South China Sea, Pacific and Indian Oceans. 

Supported by China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education & Research, I had the opportunity to participate in the Indian Ocean Cruise (9^th cruise) with Shyan 3 from April 24-May 14, 2018. 

The research vessel started sailing from Colombo, Sri Lanka on April 24, 2018 and spent 21 days at sea conducting research activities before it reached to Guangzhou, China on May 14, 2018. 

We were working on three transects in the southern Bay of Bengal: east of Sri Lanka between 6°-10°N, along with the 10°N latitude and southwest of Andaman Sea. 

At each sampling station, we conducted conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) casts to identify the physical characteristics of the water, and collected Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data to identify the velocity and direction of the water currents. 

We also collected water samples at specific depth levels with the primary purpose of identifying the nutrients and trace elements, and water samples for plankton identification were collected at each depth level. 

Expendable Conductivity Temperature Depth (XCTD) casts were performed in between the fixed sampling locations to enhance the spatial resolution of the measured physical properties of the water. Characteristics of the surface water and meteorological data along the cruise track were collected using instruments on board. 

Apart from that GPS radiosonde, which is an upper-air sounding instrument flying with a weather balloon, was released four times per day during the cruise for measuring vertical profiles of meteorological data: wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature, and humidity. 

Friendly working environment onboard enabled us to interact with scientists working in different fields, as well as share knowledge and experience.