The 10-year-old Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport has rescued more than 12,000 people, including 1,412 foreigners, on the South China Sea as of July 19, the bureau announced on Monday.

Since the bureau was founded in June 2003, the bureau has rescued 794 ships and boats, including 114 owned by foreign countries, saving 12,883 people, and prevented loss of property worth 27 billion yuan ($4.4 billion).

The bureau released the figures on July 22, the eve of its 10th year in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

The bureau, affiliated with the Ministry of Transport, is one of China's professional authorities that deals with marine accidents. It is mainly responsible for rescue operations on boats, planes and other facilities, both Chinese and foreign, on the South China Sea.