The crew members of China's aircraft carrier Shandong recently conducted their first damage control exercise of 2025, while the ship docked at a port in Hainan Province after completing its last sea training mission in 2024.
As soon as the exercise began, all crew members rushed to relevant positions according to deployment. Then the on-deck damage control commander ordered fire trucks, demolition support teams and combat teams to go forward to deal with emergency situations.
During the exercise, a fire emergency scenario was simulated under the flight deck. The damage control team members responsible for the relevant areas cooperated closely to lay water hoses, conduct cabin reconnaissance, report situations, and establish fire prevention zonings.
The exercise also included the urgent on-site rescue of the injured, in which the medical rescue team on standby established a rapid rescue channel and transferred the "injured" to the medical support unit on the ship.
Crew members said the exercise marks a good start for the new year's goal of further improving training levels.
"This training exercise has random plots with complex special situations, which is closer to actual combat. In the exercise just now, the damage control team members closely cooperated and handled the situation in an orderly manner. In the future, we will continue to enrich the special situation links of various exercises, and sharpen the command ability of commanders and the handling ability of damage control team members in repeated exercises to ensure the safety of the aircraft carrier," said Zhou Chao, a crew member of the aircraft carrier.
"In the new year, we will focus on improving combat effectiveness, boost morale, conduct training as planned, and ready ourselves for war. With a new spirit, we will push the training to a higher level in the new year," said Xiao Chuanyu, another crew member.
First damage control exercise of 2025 conducted on aircraft carrier Shandong
