Maritime Safety Administration makes headway in combat readiness

Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration has saved 253 ships and 1,706 passengers in distress over the past five years, which it has attributed to its improved support facilities and regular on-water drills.

Located in the southern end of China, the coastal city of Zhanjiang faces the South China Sea from the north and the Beibu Gulf from the west with a coastline stretching 2,023.6 kilometers, which means that it is often affected by typhoons in summer.

To prevent marine accidents, the internet is a valuable tool for the bureau. With the use of its Automatic Identification System (AIS), it is able to conduct real-time surveillance of sea areas near western Guangdong.

By setting up a very high frequency communication system, it enables universal radio communication coverage at a range of 15-20 nautical miles. Utilizing satellite phone and real-time transmission equipment, the bureau's command center is kept abreast of any unfolding situation.

Maritime drills in relation to pollution, firefighting and the leak of dangerous chemicals were carried out by the bureau from 2012 to 2017 to improve its ability to coordinate, communicate and deal with emergencies.

Thanks to its efforts, the bureau has registered a success rate of 96 percent in marine rescues, and has pulled through 21 tropical cyclones in the past five years, taking 2 million ships and 80 million passengers under its wing.