State Council stresses maritime search and rescue

The State Council released a notice on Nov 8 to reinforce maritime search and rescue work.

The notice urged an improved maritime search-and-rescue system, with national maritime search and rescue institutions efficiently organizing and coordinating the work and local governments taking their share of responsibility.

Better maritime search and rescue also calls for an improved joint conference system, with the Ministry of Transport taking the lead.

More efforts should be made to synergize inland waterway search and rescue, the notice said. Local governments should establish an emergency on-duty adjustment mechanism and reinforce routine patrol of public service vessels.

The notice also called for efforts to strengthen information sharing, construction of the system of regulations and standards, research and development of cutting-edge equipment, applications of technologies and cultivation of modern maritime search-and-rescue personnel.

In addition, national maritime search and rescue institutions should carry forward an international humanitarian spirit, fully fulfill international search and rescue tasks in accordance with related international protocols and take an active part in international rescue activities, the notice said.