Beijing: China has commissioned its largest fishery patrol ship, which has a displacement of 49.5 million tonnes.
"Yuzheng 312," of the fisheries administration has begun its maiden patrol in the the disputed South China Sea.
The ship, the Chinese fleet's largest in terms of displacement, left Guangzhou and sailed to the disputed Nansha Islands in the South China Sea to carry out a law enforcement mission.
The islands are also claimed by Vietnam.
The vessel has a displacement of 49.5 million tonnes and a navigation capability of 2,400 nautical miles with a maximum speed of 14 knots, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Routine fishery administrative patrols around the Nansha Islands will be carried out to better safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen, a Chinese fishery official said last month.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 22, 2013, 15:56