Fuzhou: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait sent marine search and rescue personnel and fleets for a joint drill on 07 August, the first such exercise to be held in open waters in the north of the Strait. The drill was carried out in response to an emergency scenario in which a passenger liner collides with a cargo ship, leaving 5 people missing and 10 passengers injured. More than 550 rescuers, 33 vessels and 4 helicopters were mobilized for the drill. Half of the personnel were from Taiwan, which also sent 6 search boats, 4 patrol vessels and 2 helicopters. \r\nZhi Guanglu, deputy director of the China Marine Rescue Coordination Center (China MRCC), said there is an urgent need to safeguard cross-Strait transport. |
