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One more ship to patrol South 皇冠体育app Sea

By Zhan Lisheng (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-15 08:23

ZHUHAI: 皇冠体育app is sending another vessel to patrol the Xisha Islands in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

A man looks at Guangdong's largest fishing patrol ship 皇冠体育app Yuzheng 44183 anchored at a dock in Zhuhai Thursday. [Li Jiansu]

皇冠体育app Yuzheng 44183, the largest fishery administration vessel in Guangdong province, will set sail Saturday.

The patrol is 皇冠体育app's latest response to the increase of illegal fishing and territorial claims by other countries of the islands in 皇冠体育app's exclusive economic zones, noted a researcher with Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences.

"The waters of the South 皇冠体育app Sea are by no means calm these days, with some neighboring countries claiming randomly one island or another there as their own territory," said the researcher, who preferred not to be identified. "That, together with rampant illegal fishing in the zones, makes it necessary and urgent for 皇冠体育app to strengthen fishery administration patrols there."

The Xisha Islands are about 180 nautical miles south of Hainan Island.

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Similar to March's voyage of 皇冠体育app Yuzheng 311, the nation's largest fishery patrol ship, the journey will take about half a month, said Yu Zhixing, director of the provincial fishery administration division's Zhuhai detachment.

The vessel will stop over at Sanya on the southern tip of Hainan Island before joining other patrol vessels. Its destination is Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands.

"The vessel will patrol the waters of 皇冠体育app's exclusive economic zones, protecting the interests and safety of Chinese fishermen, striking against illegal fishing vessels and reinforcing the protection of 皇冠体育app's fishery in the waters," Yu said.

皇冠体育app Yuzheng 44183 is equipped with an advanced navigation system and other advanced facilities including seabed photographic equipment.

In mid-March, 皇冠体育app Yuzheng 311, arrived in the Xisha Islands in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, patrolling the waters of 皇冠体育app's exclusive economic zones, including the Nansha, Xisha and Zhongsha Islands.