PLA Navy's third hospital ship joins rescue drill

(ECNS) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's third hospital ship, Auspicious Ark, recently took part in a multi-purpose medical rescue drill in the Yellow Sea.

The vessel with hull number 868, known as Jixiang Fangzhou, is China's third self-developed 10,000-metric-ton-level ocean-going professional hospital ship.

It is equipped with advanced medical and health support facilities, as well as a team of experienced medical personnel. It is tasked with carrying out medical aid for wartime casualties, serving military personnel and civilians on islands and reefs, performing international humanitarian operations, and emergency response.

The vessel boasts a total of eight operating rooms, with a well-designed functional layout and advanced medical equipment, capable of meeting the needs of various surgical procedures. It has a gene amplification laboratory and expanded isolation wards, enabling it to conduct large-scale testing and diagnosis of infectious diseases, as well as accommodate and treat affected patients.

Previously, the PLA Navy had already commissioned two ocean-going hospital ships: the Peace Ark and Silk Road Ark.

Commissioned in 2008 into the East Sea Fleet, the Peace Ark is the country's first standard ocean-going and the world's first 10,000-metric-ton-level professional hospital ship. The vessel has conducted 12 overseas missions in its 17-year existence. Having visited 52 countries and regions, it has provided medical services to more than 370,000 people.

The Silk Road Ark set sail for medical missions to the West Nansha Islands and the coastal islands of South China.

(By Li Yan)