China to launch ‘world’s largest’ coastguard patrol vessel
China is expected to soon launch its largest coastguard patrol vessel, which could give Beijing a considerable edge in its disputes with Japan over a group of uninhabited rocks in the East China Sea.
China is expected to soon launch its largest coastguard patrol vessel, which could give Beijing a considerable edge in its disputes with Japan over a group of uninhabited rocks in the East China Sea, Beijing based news website Guancha.cn reported on Monday.
The new vessel will have a displacement of 12,000 tonnes, the website reported. A photo leaked online at the weekend shows the giant ship moored at a shipyard in a state of near-completion.
The ship is painted white with the blue-and-red-stripe insignia of the Chinese coastguard, and the name "China Coast Guard 2901" painted on its side.
Upon completion, the ship will surpass the Japan Coast Guard’s two Shikishima-class patrol ships to become the world’s largest coastguard patrol vessel, Chinese media have said. The US icebreaker Healy remains the largest coastguard vessel in the world, with a displacement of 16,000 tonnes, but it primarily conducts scientific research missions in polar regions.
Japan's largest Shikishima-class vessel has a full load displacement of about 9,300 tonnes, while China’s largest existing patrol ship, the Haijian 50, displaces just under 4,000 tonnes.
Previous Chinese media reports have said the ship would be fitted with a 76mm quick-firing main gun, two secondary guns and two anti-aircraft guns, and could carry two helicopters on board.
