Hundreds of thousands ferry home across Qiongzhou Straits during spring rush

The number of passengers traveling through the Qiongzhou Straits by ferries hits 218,000 during the first three days of Spring Festival travel rush this year. [Photo by Zhang Chao/Zhanjiang Daily]

According to the Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration, over 70,000 people travelled across the Qiongzhou Straits by ferry daily in the first three days of the Spring Festival travel rush, hitting a total of 218,000.

Meanwhile, passengers that went through local ports were amounted to 58,000. Zhanjiang maritime authorities, seeing the spike in numbers, have taken multiple measures to ensure a smooth traffic flow, including the tightened supervision of hazardous articles and overload prevention.

Xuwen Maritime Office has enhanced safety control on ports, ferries and ro-ro passenger ships through a 24-hour monitoring of the port's operation, such as that of ro-ro passenger ships' docking in and out, loading and unloading of goods, passenger boarding, and on-duty crew.

Xiashan Maritime Office has conducted inspections on waterborne buses and sightseeing cruises in the port areas, with a focus on navigational safety as well as fire-fighting, communication and lifesaving equipment.

As for Suixi Maritime Office, it has attached great importance to ferry safety inspections and a prolific weather reporting of rough and hazardous weather, such as cold waves and strong winds.