The exercise, conducted by the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center, was carried out in order to help evaluate the city's level of preparedness for a real major incident at sea.

Some 1,000 people representing departments of maritime affairs, the navy, the police, port office and hospitals participated in the operation, which involved two helicopters, 30 ships, including warships, cruisers, firefighting boats, tugboats and mud-clearing boats.

The exercise, the largest of its kind and scope in China, involved a ship on fire.

Guests from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Civil Affairs and Public Health, along with officials from the navy, and the customs and maritime departments of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan attended the event.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2002)