A marine inspection vessel in south China's Guangdong Province started its voyage Tuesday to join a patrol operation in the South China Sea.

"Haixun-31",a marine inspecion vessel, started its voyage to join a patrol operation in the South China Sea on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. [Sina.com]

The "Haixun-31" left the Zhuhai port for Sanya, a port in the southern-most island province of Hainan, local maritime officials said.

The vessel will join the largest-ever joint marine inspection in mid April launched by the maritime authorities in Guangdong, Hainan and Shanghai. The ship, along with Guangdong's "Haibiao-32"and Shanghai's "Haixun-21", are the main forces in the joint operation.

The patrol aims to monitor the sea environment, check the main sea routes, route markings and other facilities on the sea and ensure shipping order and safety.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2009)