Chinese media is reporting two un-named mining companies hired a Chinese research vessel to survey the New Britain Trench. Lihir, Porgera and Hidden Valley are PNG’s largest gold mines.
Golden task for vessel’s maiden trip
Echo Yang | Shanghai Daily | September 24, 2016
CHINA’S first privately funded oceanic research vessel “Zhang Jian” returned to Shanghai yesterday after its maiden voyage off the coast of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean.
Hired by two mining companies in Papua New Guinea, the ship carried out surveys offshore near two gold mines to assess the influence of mining operations on the environment.
“Zhang Jian,” the mother ship of China’s deep-diving submersible “Rainbow Fish,” docks in Shanghai yesterday after its maiden voyage to the New Britain Trench in the Pacific Ocean. — Dong Jun
The ship also tested scientific equipment during the 73-day voyage, said Wu Xin, chairman of Shanghai Rainbow Fish Ocean Technology Co, the ship’s operation company.
Samples of ocean water and marine macro organisms were collected at the 8,000-meter-deep New Britain Trench, testing the ship’s capability in oceanic research to prepare for future missions aiming at depths of more than 10,000 meters.
The ship also carried 15 Chinese deep sea exploration enthusiasts, each paying 100,000 yuan (US$15,000).
Papua New Guinea Mine Watch 
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We are also flooded with scientist in our rain forest looking for every living thing. They slice them open and take out the intestine , the liver heart and live the animals behind to rot. We have eight American scientist and more will be coming.
Can some one out there explain to us or even make an awareness to the land owners why this foreigners just come in and do whatever they want. How are the landowners going to benefit? We are confuse about all the activities. The government have awarded ILG’s to the customary land owners and yet they turn a blind eye on every act of law that safe guard our country or the customary land owners? Please some one out there call us and I will explain more… # 70312424/70872100…
Confuse customary land owners.