"China Maritime Surveillance 26", a large surveillance ship of the China Maritime Surveillance Force, departs the dock in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, April 22, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

QINGDAO - Chinese maritime authorities on Friday added a large surveillance ship to the country's naval fleet in a bid to better protect the country's maritime interests.

The patrol ship, in the 1,000-tonne class, is named "China Maritime Surveillance 26." It was added to the North Sea fleet of the China Maritime Surveillance Force in Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province.

Authorities will use the surveillance ship to crack down on violations of China's maritime interests, including illegal use of Chinese waters and damage to its marine environment, resources and infrastructure, said Fang Jianmeng, head of the North Sea branch of the State Oceanic Administration.

"It will also be responsible for investigation of submarine resources and sea floor facilities," Fang said.

The ship is part of a 1.6-billion-yuan ($245.9 million) plan that the State Council, China's cabinet, unveiled in 1999 to increase its fleet of 1,000-tonne-plus sea patrol ships by 13 and add five patrol helicopters to patrol the nation's waters.

So far, five helicopters and 10 patrol ships have joined the China Maritime Surveillance Force. The remaining three ships will be put into use before this June, according to Fang.