Helicopter pilots stand in formation on the deck of the Chinese navy's hospital ship Hepingfangzhou as it docks in the Sri Lankan port of Colombo yesterday on a four-day goodwill visit. (Photo/Xinhua)
It is the first time for the ship, also known as Peace Ark, to visit the island nation. With a crew of 381, the ship, which is 178 meters in length and 24m wide, has treated more than 120,000 people across the globe during her travels. The vessel is equipped with facilities such as theaters, intensive care units, consultant medical services, residential treatment units and computerized tomography machines. Its helicopter can transfer patients in an emergency.