Beijing, Apr 14 (IANS): In a move to strengthen emergency response capabilities in case of oil spill accidents, China has put the country's first oil spill response vessels (OSRV) into use.

According to Li Guokai, chief of the region's Maritime Safety Administration (MSA), the vessel -- Haite 191 -- is equipped with the world's most advanced oil spill recovery technology, and oil spill recovery rates could reach 200 cubic meters per hour.

It was put into operation Thursday off southern China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Xinhua reported.

A comprehensive oil spillage surveillance, tracking and detection radar system has been installed on the vessel, and lifting equipment is also available so as to install fencing equipment to contain the spilled oil at sea.

At a cost of 65 million yuan (about $10 million), the kiloton vessel has a cruising range of 800 sea miles with a maximum speed of 15 knots.

The 60 x 12 metres vessel will also serve as a daily cruising vessel, Li said.

The ship is among the first of three specialised oil spill response vessels, approved for construction by China's Maritime Safety Administration in 2010.