The picture shows aircraft carrier Shandong berths at a naval port in Sanya. China's first domestically-made aircraft carrier Shandong (Hull 17) was officially commissioned to the PLA Navy at a military port in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, on the afternoon of December 17, 2019, making China one of the few countries in the world that have multiple carriers. Photo:China Military

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy announced on Wednesday that the aircraft carrier Shandong recently conducted a series of exercises while moored at its homeport, with analysts saying that the port drills can enhance the carrier's capabilities at sea.

One of the objectives practiced in the multi-course regular exercises was damage control, as being capable of putting out fire below deck is vital to the maintenance of a warship's endurance and combat capability, the PLA Navy said in a press release on Wednesday.

During a fire drill, sailors fully equipped with fire suits, hydraulic guns and thermometers rushed to cabins which were simulated to be on fire, overcame challenges including heavy smoke, limited lines of sight and narrow spaces, and rapidly completed the firefighting missions with consecutive procedures including confirming the cause of fire, targeted extinguishing and ventilating smoke, the PLA Navy said.

The time and location of the exercise was randomly designated, so it was closer to real combat, said Chen Xiao, a crew member on the aircraft carrier Shandong.

"We will continue to review and summarize to work out weaknesses, and provide safety guards for the carrier to carry out duties and missions," Chen said.

Another training course, held in the flight planning and dispatch center located in the island of the Shandong, was a dispatch, coordination and cooperation exercise simulating the launches and recoveries of carrier-based aircraft, according to the press release.

Scaled models of the Shandong's flight deck, multiple types of aircraft and small parts representing status of aircraft were used to assist dispatchers in coordinating dozens of aircraft on the flight deck to complete procedures in a short time, the PLA Navy said.

These procedures included aircraft takeoff and landing, maintenance, munitions loading and refueling, and when they were done, comprehensive information provided crew members on multiple positions including the deck and the hangar were taken into account.

"In 2024, we will enhance training in fields such as aviation support and emergency response, hold combat exercises in accordance with plans, and explore new potential in boosting the carrier's combat capabilities," said Gui Zhou, another crew member.

Following intensive exercises and patrol operations at sea, it is normal that the Shandong returns to homeport for regular replenishment and maintenance, but this does not mean that crew members on the carrier would stop training, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Damage control and aircraft dispatch are important aspects of carrier operations, and they can be practiced not only at sea, but also at port, the expert said.

Commissioned on December 17, 2019, the Shandong, China's second aircraft carrier, also the first one domestically built, is homeported in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, according to openly available information.

According to media reports, the Shandong held multiple far seas exercises in the West Pacific in 2023, sailing to waters to the east of the island of Taiwan multiple times, where the carrier can cut off escape routes of "Taiwan independence" secessionists and deny foreign military interference, analysts said.

Experts predicted that the Shandong will continue to hold similar far seas exercises in 2024 and further enhance its combat readiness and capabilities.