Others News
- Chinese rescue teams save 3,800 people at sea last year
Date: 10-Jan-2007 Sources: (Xinhua Online)
A maritime rescue official said here Tuesday that Chinese maritime rescue teams saved a record 3,801 people last year, including 793 foreigners.
China has been constantly upgrading its rescue capability at sea, said Song Jiahui, chief of the Rescue and Salvage Bureau under China's Communications Ministry.
Song said over the past year, the bureau's rescue teams provided a round-the-clock service for rescue and emergency assistance at sea. They developed their ability to capture alarm signals sent by ships in danger.
The helicopter-ship rescue model was taking shape in China, said Song. The nine rescue helicopters from the bureau's four air rescue groups flew over 3,500 sorties last year.
Song said in 2006, the rescue teams also helped 170 ships, including 60 foreign ships, out of danger.
Meanwhile, the chief said the teams salvaged the wreckage of 25 sunken boats, a 100 percent success rate.
According to the bureau, China will establish a comprehensive rescue system on the South China Sea and the rest of its ocean territory in east and northeast China by 2010.
The number of rescue ships will increase from one hundred to 168 while air rescue groups will expand from four to 12. The ocean radius they are capable of covering will jump from the current 110 sea miles to 260 sea miles, according to the bureau.
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