Water Traffic Safety Stressed

Waterborne traffic safety and supervision system reform were among the top concerns of a national marine security conference held in Beijing Monday.

Because many enterprises place profits before safety and streamlining governmental functions could degrade the marine sector's management capacity, it will be difficult to enhance safety work and promote marine supervision reform, said Liu Gongchen of the China Marine Safety Administration.

Established in 1998, the administration is a merger of the safety supervision and shipping inspection bureaux under the Ministry of Communications (MIC).

In 1999, ship or boat accidents claimed 769 lives, a 26.9 per cent increase from last year.

The November 24 Dashun ferry accident in Shandong Province alone killed more than 200 people, according to the administration sources.

"The November tragedy is testimony to our poor management and equipment," said Liu, deputy director of the administration, adding that it is time for the administration to address a series of chronic problems.

Reviewing the agency's work last year, the official said the most glaring problems included repeated illegal sand excavation and fishing and other environmental interferences by humans that exacerbate navigational conditions; mixed shipping of cargoes and passengers and transportation of hazardous articles; and dangerous spots on some major waterways.

According to Liu, difficulties in water safety supervision and management put a lot of pressure on marine safety personnel, some of whom are not qualified to deal with the situation.

To improve water traffic safety, China has designated 2000 as water transportation security management year. Liu will lead a group to implement strict safety regulations for boats and ships.

Earlier last month, Hong Shanxiang, MIC's vice-minister, said all passenger ships must undergo safety checks every two months, and shipping vessels that have run for more than 28 years should be put out of service.

Another aspect of better marine safety is improving national marine search and rescue operation management systems.

To do so, the country must step up international and regional co-ordination and co-operation, and establish a compensation system for search and rescue operations, according to Hong.

In 1999, the administration conducted more than 563 search and rescue operations helping 2,430 people and 673 ships escape danger, Liu said.

Liu also said the administration has conducted safety checks on more than 1,510 foreign ships, detaining 69 of them for safety reasons.

In addition to strengthening enforcement of marine safety and environmental protection laws and regulations, Liu said the administration will check this year if it has implemented all related international conventions, and if its existing rules go against international protocols.

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