China's artery waterway Yangtze River has opened temporary channels to ensure safe shipping amid record-low water level, with joint efforts made by multiple authorities in middle reaches of the river.
The heatwave this year made the water level of Yangtze about 5.7 meters lower than the average level of last year.
By far, the water level of various observation points along the river's middle reaches, including Hankou, Huangshi and Jiujiang, have declined below the lowest mark of last year. The 19 kilometer-long Jiayu Waterway, a particularly shallow channel in central China's Hubei Province with many sharp turns, has become more challenging for ships passing by.
The rarely-seen "dry drought season" has deteriorated the situation by making historical low water level of the waterway.
The Yangtze River Shipping Administration have consulted with local marine departments and waterway departments, and imposed emergency one-way traffic control on the waterway, and decided to open up a temporary channel with strict current-limiting.
"We broadcast navigation notices through VHF (very high frequency) to guide the sailors to familiarize themselves with the current two-way navigation lanes of Jiayu Waterway. Especially from 19:00 to 7:00 of the next day, we remind all vessels intending to pass through the waterway one by one, in case of the ships going downstream entering the upstream lane," said Yu Yong, deputy head of Xianning Marine Department patrol and law enforcement brigade.
The Jiayu Waterway has been kept safe and smooth so far, with its navigation efficiency significantly improved.
Source: CCTV
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