A city in Central China's Hunan province where hundreds of students commute by water is seeking to assemble a fleet of "school boats" that will transport students safely at no charge.

The first "school boat" finished the first round trip in Huangshi town, Leiyang city on Sunday, a day before China marks its 17th annual day for primary and middle school safety. That day falls on the last Monday of every March.

The boat docked at a new pier 100 meters from the Huangshi junior high school, the only boarding school in the town.

Each of the 40-plus students on board had to wear a life jacket, something rarely seen on boats in rural areas.

A school-designated safety supervisor helped students get on and off, as there was a half-meter gap between the boat and the pier.

These students' homes are far from school, so they live on campus during the week, going home on Friday and returning on Sunday evenings.

Ouyang Zubin, the school principal, said that the boats students used to take were often overcrowded and unsafe.

An assistant counts the number of students on board before a school ferry sets off from Huangshi town, Leiyang, Hunan province, on March 23. This school boat is believed to be the first of its kind in China. [Peng Bin / for China Daily]