Lingshan vessel Photo: CCTV

Vessel open day events and national defense education activities were held simultaneously in four cities on Friday to mark the fifth anniversary of the implementation of China's Coast Guard Law, with the domestically designed and built Lingshan, a vessel of a class that has gradually been deployed in maritime law enforcement missions in waters around China's Diaoyu Dao and Huangyan Dao, emerging as a highlight, CCTV News reported on Saturday.

Described as the coast guard version of the Type 054A frigate, a Chinese military affairs expert said the long endurance and high seaworthiness of the vessel enable it to adapt to complex sea conditions in distant waters. Equipped with a helicopter deck capable of accommodating multiple helicopter types, it can conduct coordinated air-sea patrols, significantly enhancing the CCG's capability for wide-area maritime surveillance, patrol and law enforcement.

The highlight of the open ship event was the Lingshan, a new-generation CCG law enforcement vessel independently designed and built by China. With outstanding overall performance, long endurance, excellent seaworthiness and integrated multi-dimensional operational capabilities, the vessel is capable of carrying out maritime rights protection and law enforcement missions around the clock and across all sea areas.

This vessel boasts excellent seaworthiness and endurance, enabling it to operate in complex open-sea conditions in distant waters, and conduct law enforcement missions across all sea areas in all weather conditions, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Wang Xianglin, a CCG officer, said the vessel's water cannon features full-range targeting, a long operating range, high water pressure and precise control. As a key non-lethal law enforcement tool, it serves both as an enforcement device and as firefighting and lifesaving equipment, per CCTV News.

It can be used to lawfully expel vessels engaged in maritime infringements and stop illegal activities, while also assisting in rescuing ships on fire at sea, containing fires caused by fuel spills, and helping ensure personnel safety, Wang said.

The water cannon could offer a long range, high water pressure and precise targeting, Zhang said. The system serves as an important non-lethal law enforcement tool, enabling coast guard personnel to conduct maritime law enforcement operations effectively.
 
The Lingshan is equipped with several new-generation high-speed law enforcement boats, primarily used for boarding and control operations, law enforcement inspections, maritime search and rescue, and casualty evacuation. Compared with earlier-generation CCG boats, they feature comprehensive upgrades in propulsion, endurance and personnel capacity.

Jiang Shoucheng, another CCG officer, said the boats are constructed from fiberglass. The boats on the port and starboard sides are launched and recovered using hydraulic davits, while the stern boat is deployed and retrieved via a stern slipway.

In addition, the Lingshan features a helicopter deck capable of accommodating multiple types of helicopters, enabling coordinated ship-helicopter operations and integrated sea-air patrols. Vessels of this class have gradually been deployed in routine maritime rights protection and law enforcement missions in waters around the Diaoyu Dao and Huangyan Dao, becoming important assets for the CCG in safeguarding the country's sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests.

The expert described the vessel as a coast guard version of the Type 054A frigate. However, unlike the Type 054A, which is designed as a combat warship, the coast guard version is not intended for military combat operations at sea but is primarily tasked with safeguarding China's maritime rights and enforcing the law at sea, Zhang said.

Notably, in January this year, a vessel of the same class was used by the China Coast Guard to rescue 17 Filipino crew members in waters around Huangyan Dao before transferring them to the Philippine side, according to CCTV News report.

A visitor said that most of his previous impressions of the CCG had come from news reports. "This firsthand visit gave me a real sense of the challenges they face in safeguarding China's maritime rights and enforcing the law at sea. It also helped me gain a deeper understanding of the protection of maritime rights and the coast guard's law enforcement duties," he said.

At the interactive exhibition area, CCG officers engaged visitors through quiz games, semaphore flag demonstrations and seamanship displays, attracting large crowds. By taking part in the activities, young visitors gained a firsthand understanding of maritime knowledge and the responsibilities of the CCG, per CCTV News.