TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Coast Guard Administration held a commissioning ceremony Thursday at Jong Shyn Shipbuilding’s Kaohsiung headquarters for the 10th Anping-class patrol vessel, Suao, and launched the 11th vessel, Lanyu.

Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the ships symbolize the government’s determination to defend sovereignty, CNA reported.

Kuan said the Anping-class has carried out a range of missions since entering service, including rescuing the Keelung-registered fishing vessel Fu Yang No. 266 after a fire in waters between Taiwan and Japan. Anping patrol vessels have also intercepted Vietnamese stowaways, seized a large shipment of marijuana, and monitored abnormal navigation patterns by Chinese research ships.

The ship has a maximum speed of 74 kph and a range of 3,704 nautical miles.

Going forward, the Coast Guard will deploy vessels to carry out five core missions: maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, safeguarding fishing rights, providing assistance, and marine conservation.