By Sun Xingwei and Zou Fei
Scene of the maritime courses of China-Thailand "Blue Strike-2023" joint naval training (Photo by Li Hao)
SATTAHIP, Thailand, Sep. 8 -- On September 7, with two Thai landing craft slowly entering the well deck of Chinese naval ship Simingshan in waters near Sattahip, Thailand, the maritime courses of China-Thailand "Blue Strike-2023" joint naval training formally kicked off.
Seven ships from both sides participated in the joint training on the first day. In the following days, the two sides will carry out training on nine subjects including replenishment-at-sea, helicopter cross-deck landing, docking operation, humanitarian relief, field hospital set-up, formation movement, joint anti-submarine operation and light signaling.
During the training on helicopter cross-deck landing in the morning, troops from both sides boarded each other's deck and directed their own helicopter to land on the ship. Meanwhile, a Thai medical team, after boarding Simingshan ship, set up a field hospital using the medical resources on the ship, and conducted casualty transport and treatment training jointly with Chinese counterparts.
Humanitarian relief training started in the afternoon. At the report of a maritime accident, the joint contingency commanding center dispatched a Chinese helicopter to search for the overboard personnel and make marks. Then, another helicopter carrying medical personnel from both sides rescued and transported them to Simingshan ship for treatment.
