An aerial view of China's first civilian medical rescue vessel for distant-water operations, the Ping Lan. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The Ping Lan, the nation's first civilian long-range offshore maritime rescue ship, was launched on Sept 23 in Linhai, a county-level city in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

The 5,000-metric-ton ship is the country's first large-scale public service vessel combining medical care, training, and rescue functions. It is currently the only ship worldwide with such comprehensive capabilities.

The vessel measures 100.15 meters long and 18 meters wide, with a capacity for 50 crew members plus medical and rescue volunteers. Designed as a floating hospital, it comes equipped with laboratories, X-ray and ultrasound rooms, CT facilities, and operating theaters — enabling it to meet a wide range of medical needs.

For rescue operations, the blue-water rescue ship includes a helicopter platform, specialized equipment and space to carry more than 1,000 tons of relief supplies, supporting large-scale international disaster response missions.

Safety is enhanced by dual emergency power systems and intelligent fire controls, ensuring stable long-distance operations.

With its advanced design and international-level capabilities, the vessel is expected to travel to Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Volunteer doctors and rescue teams will provide free medical services, training and disaster relief support to local communities, and the ship will also be ready to assist in emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis.