Sansha's new passenger ship goes into operation

The ship, the Sansha Number One, will increase cargo and passenger transportation capacity between the island groups in the South China Sea, and the port city of Wenchang on the main island of Hainan province.

A new roll-on/roll-off ship delivered last month to China's southernmost city of Sansha has set off on its maiden voyage.

The ship, the Sansha Number One, will increase cargo and passenger transportation capacity between the island groups in the South China Sea, and the port city of Wenchang on the main island of Hainan province.

On board the first cruise are some four hundred government workers, soldiers and resident representatives of the Sansha islands. Compared to the existing transport vessel, the Qiongsha Number 3, the new ship cuts travel time by a third, to ten hours. The Sansha Number One is also equipped with a helicopter landing platform, which makes it convenient for maritime rescue and island patrolling.