PACIFIC Island Foreign Ministers and representatives and their delegations were treated to a high-level maritime rescue operation drill at the picturesque Xiamen City Harbor on Friday 30 May.
The drill was part of the activities for the third China-Pacific Island Countries’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen City last week, and it was to showcase the capability of the Chinese naval vessel Haixun 06 in dealing with any emergency situation.
The delegates boarded the vessel, from which they watched the drill live.
Haixun 06 is equipped with strong capabilities for maritime traffic safety control, monitoring and early warning of pollution from ships, information processing and multi-vessel command.
Its key capabilities of this 5,000-ton large scale maritime patrol vessel include a 200-person rescue capacity, operability in conditions up to Force 12 winds and Sea State 9, and cross-sea zone deployment.
The vessel is capable of searching for and rescuing ships and people in distress, as well as responding to ship collisions, fire, pollution and reef and other dangerous accidents.
Thereafter the drill, the vessel took the Pacific delegates on a cruise in the picturesque Xiamen Harbor.
Haixun 06 is the first large vessel designated to patrol and provide services in the Taiwan Straits.
Pacific Islands journalists who covered the 3rd China-PICs Foreign Ministers’ Meeting were also invited to witness the event.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Beijing, China
