We didn't just do "oceanographic research"; people asked where we went and the answer was generally that we "went north" (unless we went south to Autec). I find the website name ironic - they don't make this speculative mission sound at all boring.
My guess for possible activities. Renew, repair, replace items planted during the previous mission, check on the North Koreans, check on the Chinese “islands” in the South China Sea.