China's first fishery patrol vessel equipped with helicopters began its maiden voyage Tuesday from the southern city of Guangzhou to patrol in the East China Sea.
The 2,580-tonnage "Yuzheng 310" was not China's largest fishery patrol vessel, but it was the fastest and had the most sophisticated technologies, said Wu Zhuang, director of the Administration for Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision in the South China Sea under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Its first mission would last for 20 days.
The vessel, with a crew of 60, has a platform for two Z-9A helicopters and a maximum speed of 22 nautical miles per hour. It is equipped with broadband satellite communications and a photoelectric tracking system.
"The use of the vessel marks as a milestone for China's marine law enforcement patrol work, as the vessel can combine air and surface surveillance," said Li Jianhua, director of the ministry's fishery bureau.
Li said the Chinese government had planned to build more such fisheries patrol vessels.
The vessel was delivered by the Guangdong Zhanjiang Haibin Shipyard in September this year.
