On February 28th, 2022, China MSA published The Announcement of China Maritime Safety Administration on issuing the Ship's Routeing System of Qiongzhou Strait and Ship Reporting System of Qiongzhou Strait (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Announcement’). The Announcement modified the Routeing System of Qiongzhou Strait and Ship Reporting System of Qiongzhou Strait (Announcement 2006 No.42), which was published on November 26th, 2006 by Ministry of Transport of the PRC, and will come into force on April, 1st, 2022. There are some major modifications to the current ship's routeing system and ship reporting system in Qiongzhou Strait, which have been implemented for more than 15 years. We hereby introduce the main modification to the two systems for Clubs/Member's reference.
Main Modifications to Ship's Routeing System
1. Adjusting the Length of East-west Traffic Lanes (details please refer to the illustration below.)
·Adjust the length of the No.1 (the lane between No.1 and No.2 Precautionary Areas) and No.2 traffic lanes (the lane between No.2 and No.3 Precautionary Areas), in order to adapt to the change of traffic direction from the two sides of Qiongzhou Strait.
·A traffic lane is added (the traffic lane to the west of No.3 Precautionary Area). The east-west traffic lane sections are adjusted from 2 to 3 to meet the safety navigation need for ro-ro passenger ships navigating in Xinhai-Nanshan lines, vessels entering or leaving Macun Port, and east-west passing vessels.
2. Adjusting the Extent of Precautionary Areas
·No.1 Precautionary Area is modified from circular to arc-shaped area.
·The length of No.2 Precautionary Area is reduced from 4.8 nautical miles to 3.4 nautical miles.
·No.3 Precautionary Area is adjusted from circular to a rectangular area with the length of 4.6 nautical miles.
·No.4 Precautionary Area is added to relieve crossing situations for vessels entering or leaving Macun Port and east-west passing vessels.
3. Improving Traffic Rules in No.3 Precautionary Area
·A roundabout and an Area to be Avoided are added to minimize the crossing situations in the Precautionary Area.
·A Recommended Route is added for vessels navigating between Yue Hai Ferry North Harbor and Yue Hai Ferry South Harbor, in order to increase the transit capacity of Guangdong-Hainan Railway.
·No.51 Center and No.52 Center are set - No.52 Center is set to separate the train ferries and ro-ro passenger ships; No.51 Center is set to separate northbound and southbound ro-ro passenger ships in order to enhance the transit efficiency.
Illustration below is the modified Ship's Routeing System:
Main Modifications to Ship's Reporting System
1. Adjusting the Applicable Vessels
·Passenger ships and ro-ro passenger ships are jointly referred to as passenger ships.
·Ships of foreign nationality, vessels carrying dangerous goods, vessels carrying hazardous goods, towing ships, and vessels restricted in maneuverability are also required to comply with the reporting system.
·Other ships required to comply with the system are changed from 200 GT and above to 300 GT and above.
2. The competent authority is changed from Hainan Maritime Safety Administration to Haikou Maritime Safety Administration.
3. Communication Channels are Modified / Added
·VHF08 shall be used as Watchkeeping / Working Channel. VHF25 shall be used as Alternative channel.
·Telephone and Fax shall be used as alternative means of communication.
4. Adjusting Contents of Reporting
·The port to report is changed from port of departure to last port of call.
·Contents of reporting on dangerous goods and ships equipped with AIS are added.
1. Ship's Routeing System
·Participating ships shall not be exempted from the responsibilities and obligations under the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea, 1972.
·Anchoring, fishing and farming are prohibited in the Precautionary Areas and Traffic Lanes.
·Ships should, so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if obliged to do so, shall report to the competent authority in advance.
·Ships in violation of this Routeing System shall be subject to penalties by the competent authority in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and rules.
2. Ship's Reporting System
·Ships navigating, berthing and operating in reporting area shall strictly comply with the emission control requirements by relevant international conventions, domestic laws, regulations and standards.
·Ships following this reporting system should maintain watch on the frequency designated by Qiongzhou Strait VTS.
·Ships in violation of this reporting system shall be subject to penalties by competent authority in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and rules.
Source: HUATAI
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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