Volunteers turn tide for stranded sailors

Saving lives, winning friends

Between 2010 and last year, more than 10,000 emergencies occurred in the waters off the Chinese coast. More than 84,000 people were rescued - an average of 46 every day - along with 7,600 ships. The success rate was more than 96 percent.

In the past five years, the International Maritime Organization has honored Chinese sailors with 28 awards, including the top honor - for exceptional bravery at sea - seven certificates of commendation and 20 letters of commendation.

In 2013, when Typhoon Hudie, the Chinese word for butterfly, swept across the South China Sea, the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center searched more than 37,000 square kilometers and rescued 637 sailors, most of them fishermen - the largest number of lives saved in any single operation in the last five years.

In 2014, China sent 19 ships, eight helicopters and five planes on a six-month search for the missing airliner MH370, which was carrying 154 Chinese nationals. More than 100 Chinese cargo vessels also participated in the search, which covered 1.4 million square kilometers of ocean. Despite the search, the jet has still not been found.

In the past five years, the Finance Ministry has spent nearly 7 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) on maritime rescue missions and on building up the system. The search and rescue center now has 200 vessels designed specifically for its missions.

Source: The China Maritime Search and Rescue Center