A fleet led by the advanced Haixun 06 patrol ship continued to carry out its patrol task in the central part of the Taiwan Straits on Thursday, the second day of its three-day special operation.

The Maritime Safety Administration of coastal Fujian province stated in a news release on Thursday night that the patrol vessel, the first large patrol/rescue vessel in the Taiwan Straits, sailed from south to north according to its designed route and inspected the central part of the Straits.

During the operation, law enforcement vessels led by Haixun 06 inspected the direct cargo route between Pingtan and Taiwan and the customary shipping routes in the Straits. The fleet also checked the water depth, ocean currents, and ship flow rate to ensure a smooth navigation environment for ships and maintain navigation order in the central Taiwan Straits.

In addition, the taskforce patrolled areas where commercial fishing boats sail densely, and illegal sand mining activities usually take place. They also checked navigation-aid facilities and the order of ship radio communication along the way to maintain safety and stability of maritime traffic.

On Friday, the fleet will conduct patrol tasks in the northern part of the Taiwan Straits. The Haixun 06, or Sea Patrol 06, was commissioned in July and is the most advanced ship operated by the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration. The ship is tasked with conducting law-enforcement patrols, monitoring maritime traffic, responding to emergencies, searching for and rescuing ships and crews, as well as extinguishing fires and handling pollution.