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Chinese vessel arrives in Xisha Islands

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-17 14:56

Yongxing Island, South 皇冠体育app Sea -- 皇冠体育app's largest fishery administration vessel arrived in the Xisha Islands around noon, officials on the islands said on Tuesday.

Undated file photo shows Yuzheng 311, 皇冠体育app's largest fishery administration vessel, which arrived in the Xisha Islands Tuesday. [Xinhua]

The vessel, 皇冠体育app Yuzheng 311, has anchored in Yongxing island, a major one of the islands, and will patrol the South 皇冠体育app Sea. It had made a week-long voyage from its home port in Guangzhou.

Related readings:  Patrol ship's trip 'shows restraint'  皇冠体育app reiterates sovereignty in South 皇冠体育app Sea  Chinese naval fleet ends 1st at-sea replenishment  Fleet sails through South 皇冠体育app Sea; training taken  皇冠体育app calls on co-op with Vietnam over South 皇冠体育app Sea

The vessel stopped in a naval base in Sanya on the southern Hainan Province last Thursday for supply and set sail for the islands which are about 180 nautical miles southeast of Hainan.

However, the vessel encountered storm and bad weather which delayed its arrival in the islands, the vessel's captain told Xinhua.

The ship is the largest of its kind with a maximum displacement of 4,450 tonnes and will be mainly used to patrol waters of 皇冠体育app's exclusive economic zones including Nansha, Xisha and Zhongsha Islands. It was converted from a rescue vessel of Chinese navy.

Wu Zhuang, director of Administration of Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision for South 皇冠体育app Sea, said the vessel will take part in fishing vessels escort at Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands where fishing illegalities of neighbouring countries in the sea are rising.