Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Hainan Free Trade Port will officially close on the 18th. As the "waterway artery" connecting Guangdong and Hainan, the Qiongzhou Strait's shipping safety and passage efficiency are directly related to the smooth implementation of the closure. The Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration has planned ahead and implemented precise measures, launching a series of initiatives to serve and guarantee the smooth operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port's closure.
It is understood that with the approaching closure of the Hainan Free Trade Port, passenger and freight volumes in the Qiongzhou Strait are experiencing a "pre-heating" increase. Data shows that in early December this year, the number of passenger and vehicle roll-on/roll-off ships departing from the Qiongzhou Strait increased by 9%, 23%, and 18% respectively compared to early November, with the increase in new energy vehicle transport reaching 27%. This combined surge in passenger and freight traffic, especially the increase in new energy vehicles and dangerous goods transport, poses a severe challenge to traffic organization, order maintenance, and emergency response.
Faced with these challenges, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration quickly formulated a special plan and task list, establishing a four-level emergency response mechanism for vehicle congestion across the Qiongzhou Strait. Once the number of vehicles waiting to cross reaches the required threshold, emergency berths will be activated, temporary routes will be added, and cross-regional traffic coordination and priority will be given to ensuring the efficient and safe transport of vehicles and passengers, with tiered responses.
Regarding maritime traffic environment management, the Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration, in conjunction with the fisheries administration, has cleared obstructing fishing nets and controlled fishing vessel operations to ensure smooth navigation. By implementing 100% inspection coverage of passing merchant ships, maritime traffic order has been effectively maintained. The Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office has continuously optimized the layout of navigation marks and adjusted the navigation marks at the North Port of the Guangdong-Hainan Railway Ferry, effectively shortening the waiting time for ships to berth and enter the port, achieving a "dual improvement" in navigation safety and shipping efficiency.
Regarding the supervision of dangerous goods maritime transport, the maritime safety administration has strengthened source control and ensured that enterprises fulfill their primary responsibilities. Through on-site visits, interviews with involved enterprises, and the issuance of safety reminders, it ensures that enterprises are aware of compliance requirements. At the same time, an information sharing mechanism has been established, and on-site inspections have been intensified, with strict penalties imposed according to law for any concealment of dangerous goods or missing labeling.
At the Xuwen Maritime Safety Administration's command center, a large electronic screen displays real-time vessel movements in the Qiongzhou Strait. By integrating VTS, AIS, CCTV, and drone patrols, a smart monitoring network covering the Qiongzhou Strait has been established. "We've set up a dedicated VTS station to provide 'one-on-one' full-process safety information services to passenger ro-ro ships, ensuring real-time 'straight in, straight out, straight away' operations. Through 'point-to-point' information support and speed control, we effectively improve the efficiency of vessel entry and exit from ports," explained Huang Jie, director of the Xuwen Maritime Safety Administration. (End)
