Zhou Liang, vice-captain of the ship, said that there are no holidays during escort missions, and everyone must be on high alert and be ready to respond to anything. "We are like hunters, we sleep with one eye open," he said.

Xie Lingyun, a PLA naval crewman on Haikou, said he had only returned home three times for Spring Festival during his 14 years of service. Sometimes, he would play a song called Mother in his bunk, and his bunkmates often asked him to stop playing it because it made them homesick.

"The eve of Chinese New Year is for reunion, and it is special for us even though we are so far from home," Xie said, adding that the naval crew would make dumplings, add new dinner items like shrimp and lamb chops, and have fun with "comrades from around the country like a big family".

Due to time differences, the naval crew might not be able to catch the New Year's Gala on television, so Xie said that "we held our own little gala on our ship's deck, and we danced, sang songs, and rehearsed talent shows on our own".

"There is no sound of firecrackers on the ocean, but we are cracking up the silent night with our laughter," he said. "It is a great honor to serve with the escort task force, and the memories and experiences shall be forever cherished."

Chen Runchu contributed to this story.