A cleaning naval barge, the first of its kind in China, has been put into use in shipping ports.

The barge can collect floating garbage or oil leaks automatically, according to the Naval Logistics and Armaments Research Institute. Such cleaning barges are expected to be used in all of China's shipping ports this year.

It can also assist with fire-fighting at sea and the supervision of environmental protection, said Wang Beian, senior researcher with the institute.

"The new cleaning barge is a flexible catamaran made from glass-fiber reinforced plastic with low resistance and high stability," he said.

The barge will help alleviate water pollution in China's naval ports and protect the marine environment, the researcher said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2006)