A boat to ferry people and supplies specially for the troops stationed on the Xisha Islands was formally put in commission last month.

　　The Xisha Islands are far away from the Chinese mainland. In the past, the officers and men stationed on the islands had to take small battle vessels on patrol duty to commute between the islands and the mainland and transport various materials.

　　Last year, the PLA general headquarters/departments and the leading body of the PLA Navy decided to "tailor-make" a boat for the troops on the Xisha Islands.

　　Last month, the boat formally entered service. The boat, named "Nanjiao-93" and nicknamed "maritime bus", is fitted out with advanced power and navigation systems and separate cabins for passengers, dried grocery and frozen foods. And the cargo cabins are also installed with automatic loading and unloading equipment that can spare the officers' and men's trouble of carrying materials by hands and on shoulders.

　　Besides, the passenger cabins are installed with air conditioners and LCD TV sets, and the seats are designed as the aero seats. A sailor said: "I can sleep all the way to the island. It is as comfortable as riding a luxury bus!"

　　By Zhu Guangyao and Zhou Yong

　　(Nov 18, PLA Daily)                                                      Editor: Fan Aifeng