China building its largest patrol vessel

Known as Haixun 01, the patro

l

vesse

l

is designed to be 128.6m

l

ong with a disp

l

acement of 5,418 tons. The newbui

l

ding wi

l

l

be ab

l

e to accommodate up to 200 rescued peop

l

e

and

wi

l

l

be equipped to offer basic medica

l

treatment

and

surgery. The vesse

l

wi

l

l

be bui

l

t with a medium-sized he

l

icopter hanger

and

a p

l

atform for

l

arge he

l

icopter take-offs

and

l

and

ings enab

l

ing airborne search

and

rescue missions to be carried out.

Aside from rescue missions, the newbui

l

ding wi

l

l

be ab

l

e to tow vesse

l

s, carry out fire-fighting duties

and

wi

l

l

have a maximum operationa

l

range of 10,000 nautica

l

mi

l

es.

China at present has two 3,000 tonne patro

l

vesse

l

s,

Haixun 11

and

Haixun 31

and

a 1,500 tonne patro

l

vesse

l

Haixun 21 to undertake maritime inspection, sa

l

vage

and

maritime traffic management in coasta

l

waters.