Hainan Coast Guard vessel tours stir youth national pride

The Hainan Coast Guard hosted a two-day public ship tour in Haikou on Friday and Saturday, inviting coastal residents, students, and maritime industry workers aboard the patrol vessel Huaguang to mark the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Coast Guard Law of the People's Republic of China.

The event featured guided walk-throughs of the ship's equipment and living quarters, alongside interactive briefings on maritime law enforcement, emergency rescue, and environmental protection. Officers used case studies to explain legal prohibitions against illegal fishing, smuggling, and unsafe navigation, and distributed practical guidance on distress response, vessel safety, and the 95110 emergency hotline.

"I learned a lot today," said Jiang Jiahang, a fifth-grader from Haikou No 25 Primary School who toured the vessel. "The officers work so hard at sea to protect us. I want to study well and help guard the South China Sea when I grow up."

A Hainan resident, surnamed Lai, said she brought her son to the site hoping to instill patriotism in the younger generation from an early age.

A spokesperson from the Hainan Coast Guard said the open house was designed to close the gap between the public and maritime law enforcement, while reinforcing awareness of the coast guard's statutory duties in fishery management, maritime security, and disaster relief.

The spokesperson also noted that future outreach will include regular legal education sessions, community engagement events, and safety training to support governance and sustainable development in the waters off Hainan Free Trade Port.