A contract has been signed for the building of China's largest and most advanced patrol vessel.

The vessel is scheduled for completion in July 2012, according to a source from Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Company.

Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Company has won the contract for building the ship. It signed the contract with Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration for making of the new ship Thursday in Shanghai.

Known as "Haixun 01," the patrol vessel is designed to be 128.6 meters long with a tonnage of 5,418 tonnes.

The ship will have room to accommodate 200 people rescued at sea and will be equipped with devices to offer basic treatment and surgery to anyone injured. The vessel will be built with a helipad so airborne search and rescue missions can be carried out from it.

Aside from rescue missions, the vessel will be able to tow ships as well as put out fires on other boats.

"Haixun 01" has a maximum sailing distance of 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 km) without refueling.

China at present has two 3,000-tonnage patrol vessels, "Haixun 11" and "Haixun 31," and a 1,500-tonnage patrol vessel "Haixun 21," to undertake maritime inspection, salvage and maritime traffic management in the country's coastal waters.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2010)