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Haixun 31 Maritime Safety Administration patrol ship

"Haixun-31" was China's first non-military ship equipped with a helicopter hangar it developed and built by itself. After that China included contiguous area and exclusive economic zone into its scope of maritime supervision to strengthen its cruise surveillance. As of 2016, . China's maritime surveillance fleet is estimated at more than 300 vessels only two of which, the Haixun 11 and Haixun 31, displaced more than 3,000 tons.

China's largest maritime inspection vessel "Haixun-31" and three patrol ships of the marine safety authority of north China's Hebei Province conducted a cruise drill in Bohai Bay, July 19, 2005. Haixun 31, one of China's largest patrol ships, left South China's Guangdong Province 16 June 2011 for a two-week visit to Singapore, the first time China's maritime safety authorities have sent a large patrol ship to visit a foreign country. The Chinese delegate aboard will hold talks with Singapore maritimes officials on sea rescue, anti-piracy and port management, said an official with the provincial maritime affairs bureau.

One of China’s largest civilian patrol ships crossed through the South China Sea, where tensions are heightened because of territorial disputes over islands believed to sit on top of huge oil and gas deposits. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said 15 June 2011 the Haixun 31 had already left from its home base in southern Guangdong province. The voyage marks the first time Chinese authorities have sent a large patrol boat to visit a foreign country, although other nations routinely carry-out such missions as a way to improve relations. The route to Singapore was expected to take the Haixun 31 near areas in which similar Chinese patrol boats were involved in recent incidents that raised tensions with the Philippines and Vietnam. The main territorial dispute in the South China Sea involves the Spratly Islands, which are near key shipping lanes and are believed to sit on top of huge deposits of oil and gas.

Chinese media reports about the patrol ship did not specifically mention territorial disputes. But they did emphasize that the voyage is aimed at demonstrating Beijing’s resolve to defend its territorial claims. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has largely pushed a multilateral solution to the Spratly dispute. The Chinese spokesman indicated his country still prefers to deal with each claimant individually. He says China wants to resolve South China Sea disputes through direct negotiations and is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. He said this position will, in his words, never change. The trip was expected to promote cooperation in maritime affairs as well as in marine economy and environment, said the official.

History was made 04 September 2012 when a Chinese Maritime Safety Administration ship pulled into the Port of Honolulu marking the first time an MSA patrol boat visited a U.S. port. The 367-foot MSA ship, Haixun 31, made the historic port call to participate in a combined search and rescue exercise alongside Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island. Together the two ships, working with Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, formed building blocks towards a cooperative partnership.

Solidifying this partnership is vital for continued safety in the region. In 1987, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Chinese MSA signed a memorandum of understanding outlining search and rescue communications and responsibilities. Since then the U.S. and China have collaborated on maritime issues, and the Haixun 31 port visit served to bolster this already strong partnership. “This historic engagement further improves the coordination of search and rescue operations at sea,” said Rear Adm. Charles Ray, commander of the 14th Coast Guard District. “This is the first visit to the United States by the Haixun 31 and is an opportunity to strengthen our relationship on a number of common maritime missions.”

Over the course of a few days the two ships took part in joint exercises which included using ships and helicopters from both countries in search and rescue scenarios. But before the at-sea exercises could begin, the agencies presented on their unique capabilities and assets. The Coast Guard highlighted a Joint Rescue Coordination Center’s role in determining search area and coordination of available rescue assets. Participants also learned about the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System program – a voluntary system used worldwide by search and rescue agencies to arrange assistance for those in distress at sea. The MSA participants focused on their capabilities and how their missions are performed.

After discussing their capabilities, the responders were ready for another historical milestone: the first time the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China would operate together in a full-scale search and rescue exercise. Bright and early in the morning a Coast Guard helicopter crew dropped a rescue dummy to simulate a survivor in the water eight miles off Oahu. Six hours later a helicopter crew from the Haixun 31 conducted search patterns. They were able to locate the rescue dummy and deployed a flare to mark its location. A small boat from the Haixun 31 was then launched and recovered the survivor. Coast Guard aircrews then moved in and hoisted the survivor from the deck of MSA ship to simulate a medevac.

The historic exercise was a direct result of discussions between the United States and China during the fourth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialog in May 2012. During that May meeting the two countries held in-depth discussions on major bilateral, regional and global issues, and reviewed the progress of advancing the shared vision of building a U.S.-China cooperative partnership.

At 2:40 am of March 8th 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 lost contact with ground control. China MSA immediately launched response to conduct search and rescue work. M/V “Haixun 01” and M/V “Haixun 31” were sent to implement search and rescue mission for the lost flight. “Haixun 01” swept across the northern and southern hemispheres and crossed 66 latitudes, which lasted 157 days with a range of more than 20,000 miles and an area of 245,000 km2. “Haixun 31” set off from the South China Sea to the Thailand Gulf , the Strait of Malacca , Andaman Sea , north and east area of the southern Indian Ocean, Melon Wow Sea and other places , which lasted 54 days with a range of more than 10,000 miles and area nearly 130,000 km2.