A bulk freighter is at risk of exploding after colliding with a container ship and immediate emergency action needs to be taken. That is the scenario of a maritime drill being held at Yangshan Port in Shanghai today, the largest exercise of its kind ever held in China during peacetime.

Under the command of the state maritime safety authority, Shanghai maritime search and rescue center will launch an emergency plan to organize local rescue forces -- encompassing professional rescue workers, merchant vessels and military ships -- and help the freighter out of trouble.

The drill was scheduled to last 70 minutes from 10:30 AM and involves rescuing drowning sailors, fire fighting, cleaning up oil pollution and thwarting a terrorist attack.

Japan and South Korea have sent vessels to view in the exercise. Maritime officials from the US, Russia, the International Maritime Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have also been invited to observe.

More than 40 vessels and four maritime helicopters are expected to participate, said organizers.

"Aimed at improving the efficiency of rescue forces in responding to emergency maritime accidents, the drill should serve as a platform for our country to intensify regional partnerships," said Vice Minister of Communications Xu Zuyuan, who is also general-commander of the exercise.

The exercise is also hoping to enhance understanding between China and ASEAN members as both sides agreed last November to work together on transport infrastructure and maritime safety and security, Xu said.

China boasts 18,000 kilometers of coastline, and increased sea traffic, fuelled by rapid economic growth, has increased the risk of accidents, making an efficient coastguard rescue force even more important.

From 1973 to 2003, more than 2,350 oil spills occurred along the nation's coast.