Flagship Takes on the Mission, Striving to Safeguard Clear Passage—Guangdong Maritime Advances Modernization of South China Sea Waterway Management Through the "Haixun 09" Vessel

In October 2021, China's first 10,000-ton maritime patrol vessel, "Haixun 09," was officially commissioned in Guangzhou, filling the gap in China's large maritime command and law enforcement platforms for the deep and distant seas. Over the past five years, this major national vessel has been rooted in the core waters of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, using the region's high-density navigation and its complex overlay of various industries as a testing ground for governance. It has continually refined mechanisms for regulation, emergency response, and collaboration. Its mature experiences have radiated into the vast waters of the South China Sea, converting the hardware advantages of large maritime equipment into a systematic efficiency for waterborne traffic governance.

Over the past five years, this flagship of integrated command for the deep and distant seas has sailed over 48,000 nautical miles, inspected 15,720 ships, handled 348 abnormal vessels, and successfully completed missions such as special patrols near Huangyan Island, territorial sea baseline patrols, maritime guards for rocket and satellite launches, and major maritime search and rescue operations. Through its missions, it has measured every inch of blue national territory and resolutely safeguarded national maritime sovereignty with concrete actions.

Standing at the milestone of its fifth anniversary since commissioning, the deep blue trajectory of "Haixun 09" is a vivid representation of Guangdong Maritime Services accelerating the construction of a strong transportation and maritime nation. It also provides a practical model for modernizing maritime traffic safety governance in the South China Sea in a new era.

Strengthening Party Leadership: Steering the Political Direction of the Flagship

The Party branch aboard "Haixun 09," based on the dynamic nature of ship duties, offshore operations, and sudden tasks, implements the practice guide of "Party building onboard follows the battle position, and organizational building aligns with tasks." It has innovatively formulated the "Five Forgings and Five Sailings" branch work method, deeply integrating Party-building efforts with ship operations to ensure high-quality development through high-quality Party leadership.

“Haixun 09” has optimized organizational living by introducing the "coastal seminars + onboard self-study + micro-Party lessons on duty" learning model, conducting 40 deck-side Party lessons in total. Using the sea-based Party committee discussion mechanism, it has set up 12 party-member duty posts at critical positions such as lookout and alert, air-sea coordination, and emergency handling. Party members manned all key points, such as patrol law enforcement, deck duty, and engine watch. Volunteers among Party members took on challenging tasks such as long-duration watch and rough-sea patrols. They successfully completed 15 cross-sea patrol missions, significantly enhancing enforcement and regulation efficiency.

To meet the demands of offshore operations, "Haixun 09" has established an emergency response team of Party members, a technical innovation group, and a service convenience post. It has handled 10 sudden emergencies, completed 8 emergency rescue tasks, and overcome 15 technical challenges, demonstrating the exemplary role of Party pioneers. The branch set up a "Mobile Lighthouse Post" to regularly provide maritime law education and navigation knowledge outreach, serving 9,700 seafarers and community members in the past five years. The Party branch aboard "Haixun 09" has been awarded the Five-Star Party Branch and Pioneer Party Branch titles in the maritime industry and was recognized as an Advanced Grassroots Party Organization within the Ministry of Transportation in 2026. The ship's team has also been honored as a National Advanced Transportation Collective.

Focusing on Core Responsibilities: Taking the Lead in Safeguarding South China Sea Maritime Traffic Safety

Relying on its core equipment capabilities such as Level 9 sea navigation, integrated air-sea operations, long endurance, and cluster-based remote command, "Haixun 09" has developed a "practical training — mechanism solidification — full-scale replication" work paradigm for its core mission. Using regular long-range maritime patrol enforcement as its anchor task, it has transformed this 10,000-ton vessel into an advanced command hub for emergency search and rescue in the South China Sea, ensuring the secure and smooth operations of the international maritime supply chain.

In maritime rights protection, "Haixun 09" achieved the first comprehensive patrol of the South China Sea islands, conducted the first maritime patrol of Huangyan Island on behalf of China Maritime, inspected 58 territorial sea baseline points in the South China Sea over four patrols, and carried out a special marine traffic enforcement mission in waters east of Taiwan, amplifying the voice of Chinese maritime authority.

In safety assurance, "Haixun 09" established a three-dimensional prevention and control system encompassing key waters, key time periods, and major events. It maintained regular patrols at the Pearl River Estuary, new maritime shipping lanes for essential goods, conducted 38 special patrols through South China Sea shipping lanes, and remained on duty for five consecutive Spring Festivals in the Qiongzhou Strait. The vessel also provided water security for major events in Hong Kong and Macau and supported significant events such as the sailing competitions of the 15th National Games.

In emergency search and rescue, "Haixun 09" participated in missions such as the super typhoon "Hagupit" rescue for overboard personnel, handling the "Donghai Gong 7" vessel's anchor incident, and site duty at the "Haili 5" shipwreck. It also played a pivotal role in the 2022 National Maritime Search and Rescue Comprehensive Drill and the 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao joint rescue exercise.

In development services, "Haixun 09" ensured the safe operation of 13 million kilowatts of offshore wind power grid connections in Guangdong Province, inspected hundreds of oil platforms in the South China Sea, and facilitated updates to warning markings for six platforms. Over five years, it conducted "Fisheries Protection" actions, supporting over 7,000 gravity-style cages and six large-scale intelligent aquaculture platforms. It also ensured three sea-based launches of the Jielong-3 carrier rocket.

Empowering with Technology: Taking the Lead in Exploring Smart Regulatory Practices

With its positioning as a platform for offshore maritime technology testing and the cultivation of new productivity, "Haixun 09" has designed a smart maritime construction roadmap of "platform deployment — scenario testing — system upgrade."

Relying on digital hardware like onboard integrated communication, multi-source sensory radar, ship-based base station networking, and drone collaboration operations, "Haixun 09" has established a comprehensive regulatory model of "shore-based command, electronic patrol, flagship oversight, and low-altitude empowerment." It addresses challenges such as weak situational awareness in offshore areas, insufficient communication, and delayed on-site command comprehensively.

By developing a complementary near-far sea integrated regulatory framework, "Haixun 09" has extended its mobility for offshore control while utilizing small maritime patrol vessels for regional management and drones for routine inspections of critical waters. The vessel has been transformed into a maritime mobile sensor and computational node, conducting continuous real-world testing on small target recognition, dynamic risk evaluation, and multi-source data fusion.

Meanwhile, "Haixun 09" has also refined the operational protocols for large offshore equipment deployment, task grouping, and procedural mechanisms, streamlining cross-sea area scheduling lists and coordinated handling workflows. This elevates the standalone capabilities of the equipment to a comprehensive maritime regulatory operational capability for the entire South China Sea, providing standardized practices for offshore smart maritime enforcement in response to the "Intelligent Shipping 2030 Action Plan." It sets a model example for the deep integration of artificial intelligence and shipping elements.

Collaborative Governance: Building a Multi-Party Offshore Governance Framework

Addressing the cross-border flow of risks in the South China Sea, "Haixun 09" has developed a collaborative maritime governance methodology based on "model establishment, gradual expansion, and mechanism solidification," using the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a testing ground. The vessel has served as a mobile operational platform, routinely conducting tri-region joint patrols, rescue drills, and business consultations. It has continuously refined procedures for traffic control, emergency response, and information sharing, facilitating the alignment of regulatory standards, emergency processes, and information-sharing mechanisms.

The mature collaborative model of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been extended to the South China Sea. Proactive engagement with the Coast Guard, comprehensive maritime law enforcement, and professional rescue units has strengthened systems for joint patrols in key waters, shared risk information, and coordinated emergency response to maritime incidents. This facilitates complementary strengths and coordinated efforts from multiple departments, addressing gaps in offshore governance and enhancing a collective force for South China Sea safety management.

Leading the Way: Setting an Example for Advancing Maritime Modernization

To achieve excellence, tools must first be refined; for tools to reach their full potential, a "home base" is essential. The upcoming completion of a dedicated dock for large patrol vessels will provide crucial support for enhancing the operational capability of "Haixun 09" and achieving seamless ship-shore integration. In recent years, "Haixun 09," with a forward-looking vision, has actively advanced the deployment of emergency forces, significantly enhancing its long-term offshore enforcement and emergency response capabilities.

By adhering to the work approach of "post-mission reviews guiding planning and practical needs shaping capabilities," the vessel has surpassed the limitations of single missions and point-based solutions. Leveraging experience gained from cross-sea area operations and major missions, it systematically analyzes the evolution of offshore risks. It proactively lays the groundwork for prevention-oriented governance by setting up capabilities, systems, and resource reserves in advance, strengthening the modern maritime regulatory and service system in line with the goals of building a strong transportation nation.

Utilizing insights gained from patrols and post-exercise reviews, "Haixun 09" has iteratively developed tiered and categorized offshore emergency response plans while solidifying multi-force sea-air coordinated command chains. It continues to explore real-world applications of onboard sensory and long-range communication equipment, builds tiered talent pipelines for offshore command, rescue coordination, and platform operations, and gradually establishes governance standards suited to the offshore environment, steadily advancing the modernization of South China Sea maritime traffic governance.

Sailing forward with determination, the mission remains steadfast. The 5th anniversary of "Haixun 09" is not only a milestone for reflection but also a starting point for a new journey into the deep blue. Aligned with the higher demands of deep and distant sea traffic governance, we will maintain confidence, stay resolute, address challenges, and focus on targeted efforts. We will continue unleashing the flagship's potential, concentrate on strengthening core offshore emergency command capabilities, promote the iteration of technological equipment, deepen cross-regional collaborative governance, and solidify equipment maintenance and talent support. This will ensure the safety of South China Sea maritime traffic, contribute to the building of a strong transportation and maritime nation, and safeguard the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.