China Defense Blog reports Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army Marine Corps (PLAMC) Visit, Boarding, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) teams en route to waters off Somalia will be wearing new, safer equipment.

Notable is that the armored equipment vest incorporates a quick release feature.

“Clear Duty VBSS body armor vest is being tested by the PLAMC for boarding party. It’s made by a local Chinese private company. VBSS stands for Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operation.

“The CD VBSS is more comfortable and offers quick-release that the standard issued Type 06 body armor lacks. The quick-release is a life saver if a boarding team member fall into the water. All he needed it is just pull the quick-release to remove the vest (which will be loaded down with hard plates, ammo, pistol, comm & other gears) and swim to the surface.

“The vest uses Kevlar material and has large SAPI size hard plate pocket in the front and back. — Timothy Yan” (More detail and photos at China Defense Blog)