The mainland flagged off a brand new "state-of-the-art" rescue ship to join four of its other vessels deployed in Taiwan Straits over the weekend, keeping in mind the increasing volume of sea traffic during Spring Festival.

The new ship, Donghaijiu 113, equipped with 8,000-kilowatt engines and a helipad, left Guangzhou on the weekend, Sun Fumin, chief of Donghai Rescue Bureau under the Ministry of Transport, announced yesterday.

Donghaijiu 113 is the mainland's second ship with a helipad after Nanhaijiu 101, the mainland's biggest rescue vessel, with 14,000-kilowatt engines, which is deployed in South China Sea as of now.

"The new vessel is the best rescue ship in East China Sea now. The aim to deploy it to the Taiwan Straits was to strengthen our maritime rescue capability there," Sun said.

He added that even after the peak season is over, Donghaijiu 113 will continue to stand by in the Straits along with other ships to watch out for any emergencies that may occur, he said.

"With the mainland and Taiwan launching direct shipping links last year, sea traffic along the Straits is bound to increase, and we want to be fully prepared," Sun said.

In the past three years, the mainland rescue team has saved 191 people in the Taiwan Straits in 80 missions, he said, adding that the mainland's maritime rescue force has been rapidly improving since 2003.

According to official statistics, the mainland's rescue fleet of 62 vessels saved 3,079 people last year, including 484 overseas people, and helped 124 ships in danger.

However, Song Jiahui, director-general of China Rescue and Salvage Bureau, said there was a need to increase the mainland's fleet of rescue ships and helicopters to be more efficient in saving lives.

Song said at a working conference yesterday that there was a plan in place to strengthen the mainland's fleet, which included 15 ships with 8,000-kilowatt engines and three with 14,000-kilowatt engines.

"So far seven 8,000-kilowatt ships, including Donghaijiu 113, and one 14,000-kilowatt ship have been delivered and put into use, while the remaining will be in place soon," he said.

Four ships with the same features as Donghaijiu 113 will be delivered this year, while five more will be delivered by 2011, Song said.

(China Daily January 20, 2009)