China's largest ever maritime search-and-rescue exercise was
conducted yesterday, involving 400 people, 28 vessels, two
helicopters and an aircraft in the waters near Dalian Port,
northeast China's Liaoning Province.
The exercise started when a "collision" between a passenger
ferry and a cargo boat was reported at 10:30 AM and the National
Maritime Rescue Emergency Plan was?activated immediately. The
main elements of the exercise, including the rescue of 368
passengers and crew members, fire-fighting and clean-up of an oil
spill, were completed in 90 minutes.
By involving 24 agencies including the maritime and rescue
departments and the navy, the exercise was a comprehensive test of
China's newly established national maritime rescue emergency
system, said Vice Minister of Communications Xu Zuyuan.
The national emergency system was established in 2005 and the
central government has substantially increased investment in it
over recent years.
Statistics from China Maritime Search and Rescue Center show
that a total of 1,568 incidents?were reported in Chinese
waters in 2005. The center rescued 16,836 people over the year,
which accounted for 95.3 percent of those endangered. ?
A complete maritime emergency reaction system should be set up
and any weaknesses dealt with after it's tested, said State
Councilor Hua Jianmin while viewing the exercise.
He called for more investment to improve the available rescue
equipment and strengthened?cooperation between various rescue
services. ?
More international exchanges in the sector are also required to
ensure the safety of China's vessels and citizens in international
waters, Hua said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2006)
