China showcases maritime rescue advancements in Hainan drill

China conducted a large-scale maritime-air rescue drill in southern China's Hainan province on Wednesday, showcasing the country's latest advancements in maritime rescue technology and capability. The exercise, organized by China Rescue and Salvage under the Ministry of Transport, featured a fleet of specialized rescue vessels and helicopters, underscoring China's growing capabilities in ocean rescue and salvage while enhancing public awareness of waterway safety.

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

As China's maritime sector continues to expand, ensuring the safety of sea transportation and marine economic development has become top priority. Currently, China accounts for one-third of the world's international shipping volume, with around 95 percent 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 percent 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.

According to China Rescue and Salvage, 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.