The Coast Guard Administration has commissioned its 10th 600-ton Anping-class
patrol vessel at a ceremony in Kaohsiung.

According to the administration the commissioning of the "Suao" highlights
the government's commitment to maritime sovereignty.

The "Suao" has a maximum speed of 40 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical
miles and has been equipped to carry out firefighting, law enforcement, and
search and rescue missions.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by Ocean Affairs Council Minister
Kuan Bi-ling and also saw another vessel of the same class officially named
"Lanyu."

That vessel will be deployed to the Coast Guard Administration's mobile
flotilla in eastern Taiwan to strengthen law enforcement in the region.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kuan cited the achievements of the Anping-class
fleet.

Those achievements include intercepting smugglers carrying Vietnamese
stowaways, monitoring Chinese research vessels and supporting military drills
such as the Han Kuang exercises.