The waters around the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Shanghai were roiled yesterday with clouds of smoke, the roar of rotor blades and the wakes of rescue vessels as maritime authorities carried out a major emergency drill.

The hourlong episode centered on a cargo vessel that suffered a simulated explosion and fire and lost several men overboard. Six rescue ships, two helicopters and a team of divers were put through their paces as a fire boat sprayed water on the "stricken" vessel.

The exercise was the first major drill to be carried out by the Shanghai-based Donghai Rescue Bureau, which was set up in 2003 to respond to emergencies mainly in the waters of the East China Sea.

(Shanghai Daily August 18, 2006)