China’s Salvage and Rescue Force Conducts Routine Rotational On-Call Duty at Nansha Islands Reefs

On July 29, the "Nanhai Rescue 115" vessel of the Ministry of Transport's Nanhai Rescue Bureau returned to the Sanya rescue base, completing the routine emergency standby mission for the Nansha Islands and reefs in this batch. With this, China Rescue and Salvage has completed the 33rd batch of routine standby rotations for the Nansha Islands and reefs.

During this batch of standby missions, the Nansha maritime and aerial rescue forces were stationed on the frontlines of the open sea, directly facing challenges such as frequent thunderstorms, complex sea conditions, and high salinity and humidity. They strictly adhered to the 24-hour emergency standby system, focused on enhancing practical combat capabilities, and conducted specialized training. The "B-72CT" rescue crew routinely organized training on ship-aircraft coordination, nighttime rescue, and long-distance search operations, efficiently completing emergency tasks such as aerial reconnaissance and personnel transfer. The "Nanhai Rescue 115" vessel conducted specialized training on scenarios involving deep-sea rescues, including navigation in complex sea conditions, precise personnel hoisting, and modular emergency delivery. Simultaneously, they implemented round-the-clock safety hazard inspections, continuously honing multi-scenario coordinated response capabilities to ensure timely and efficient handling of emergency tasks.

Since the launch of routine rescue standby missions for the Nansha Islands and reefs in 2018, China Rescue and Salvage has continuously optimized the deployment of open-sea rescue forces, extending the rescue standby area nearly 500 nautical miles southward, filling the gap in China's deep-sea emergency rescue capabilities. As of July 29, China Rescue and Salvage has completed the 33rd batch of standby vessels and the 16th batch of rescue crew rotations, dispatching a total of 1,015 personnel, handling 145 incidents, rescuing 819 people in distress, and saving 33 distressed vessels. The total value of rescued property exceeds 5.8 billion yuan, effectively ensuring the safety of international shipping routes in the South China Sea.