A fleet of Chinese marine surveillance ships departed from Sanya Port in south China's Hainan Province on Thursday morning to carry out regular patrol missions in the South China Sea.

Marine patrol ship Haixun 31 sails out of the port of Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, Feb 28, 2013. A formation of three marine patrol ships Haixun 21, Haixun 31 and Haixun 166 started their coast guard mission in South China Sea on Thursday, a second one by the national Maritime Safety Administration at this water area in 2013. The first mission was conducted from Jan. 15, 2013 to Jan 17, 2013.[Photo/Xinhua]

The fleet consists of the Haixun 21, Haixun 31 and Haixun 166, the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration said.

The missions will strengthen the country's maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team's rapid response abilities in the South China Sea.

It will monitor maritime traffic safety, investigate maritime accidents, detect pollution, and carry out search and rescue work.

It is China's second patrol after two ships started a regular patrol mission in the South China Sea from Guangzhou on Feb. 20.