After a four-month trial, China's first airborne maritime rescue service officially begins operation in the city today.

　　The rescue system - mainly relying on two helicopters that cost 2 million yuan (US,964) in total and a special airport - has accomplished two successful missions in March and May respectively, maritime officials said.

　　The local rescue service center - Gaodong airport in Pudong District - is responsible for saving lives when accidents occur in the East China Sea, according to Song Jiahui, director of the State Salvage Administration under the Ministry of Communications.

　　More such services will be set up soon to deal with accidents in other water areas off the country's coast, he added.

　　According to the salvage administration, the airport - covering 136,000 square meters and with a 250-meter-long and 30-meter-wide runaway - was built in March 2001.

　　With 70 employees who have undergone professional maritime rescue training, the Gaodong airport is equipped with two S-76C+ helicopters imported from US-based Sikorsky Air-craft Corp, officials revealed.

　　In addition, it also has a hangar, a navigation center and facilities for fuel supply and fire-fighting.

　　The center performed two helicopter rescue tasks this year, officers said, giving details yesterday.

　　On March 3, rescuers, lowering down by a tightrope from the helicopter, saved three fishermen out of their sinking boat at the mouth of the Yangtze River amid strong winds reaching up to 88 kilometers per hour.

　　In the May 31 mission, the helicopter flew over a Greek vessel, leaving Shanghai port about 100 km away, and picked up a sick sailor, bring-ing him back to Shanghai for treatment, according to Zhou Zhengbao, a Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration spokesman.