China's Maritime Rescue Capabilities on Display in Hainan Drill

China's Maritime Rescue Capabilities on Display in Hainan Drill

China showcased its advanced maritime rescue technology and capabilities during a large-scale drill in Hainan province on Wednesday. The exercise, organized by China Rescue and Salvage under the Ministry of Transport, involved a fleet of specialized rescue vessels and helicopters, highlighting the country's growing expertise in ocean rescue and salvage.

The drill, held in Haikou, Hainan, covered various rescue scenarios, including search and rescue for people overboard, rapid helicopter evacuation for medical emergencies, and deep-sea scanning operations. Advanced rescue equipment, including the high-powered rescue vessel Nanhai Jiu 111, the fast catamaran rescue ship Nanhai Jiu 201, and the S-76D rescue helicopter, were deployed during the exercise.

With China's maritime sector expanding rapidly, ensuring the safety of sea transportation and marine economic development has become a top priority. Currently, China accounts for one-third of the world's international shipping volume, with around 95% of the country's import and export cargo transported by sea. Last year, the total value of China's marine economy surpassed 10 trillion yuan for the first time, contributing 7.8% to the national GDP.

China's professional rescue and salvage teams play a critical role in safeguarding maritime transport and economic activities. Last year, China's rescue and salvage forces under the Ministry of Transport successfully rescued 1,616 people in distress and 58 endangered vessels while salvaging 62 sunken ships, preventing direct economic losses estimated at approximately 6.768 billion yuan.

Beyond routine rescue operations, the system has also undertaken key national missions, including flood relief efforts in Qionghai, Hainan, stationed rescue operations in Nansha Islands, and maritime emergency support for the launch of the Shenzhou XVIII and Shenzhou XIX crewed spacecraft. These efforts have played a crucial role in ensuring maritime transportation safety while safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and maritime rights.

Currently, China's rescue and salvage system operates a fleet of 217 specialized rescue vessels and 32 rescue aircrafts, fulfilling the country's obligations under international maritime conventions, as well as bilateral and multilateral agreements.

China aims to establish a modern, fully integrated, and highly efficient professional rescue and salvage system by the end of this year. The system is expected to provide all-weather, rapid-response rescue coverage across both maritime and inland waterways, with emergency rescue and salvage capabilities reaching world-class standards.