2013年度南海西部综合实验研究航次拟采用实验三号船于2013年7月实施，其主要调查区域覆盖南海西部琼东上升流区域、琼东南深水海盆和西沙群岛海区，越南以东离岸流区域等。调查学科涵盖海洋水文、海洋气象、海洋光学、海洋生物生态、海洋化学和海洋地质，整个航次航程约4000海里，设置了14条测线，102个CTD观测站，合计航次计划时间约为38天，经费预算380万。

The NSFC Comprehensive Fields Investigation Experiment over the Western South China Sea in 2013 will be undertaken in July 2013. The Key region will cover the Western South China Sea, including the eastern Hianan Upwelling region, south-eastern hainan region, vietnam offshore jet region, etc. The navigation mile is about 4000 nm, and the time duration is about 38 days.