Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office Assists in Conducting a Special Investigation of Navigational Obstacles in the Wailuomen Waterway

Recently, to effectively ensure the navigation safety of ships in the Wai Luo Men Channel, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office, in collaboration with the Xuwen Maritime Office and other units, conducted on-site inspections of navigation obstructions in the waters surrounding Buoys 12 to 15 in the Wai Luo Channel, taking solid measures to safeguard maritime traffic safety in the jurisdiction.

The Wai Luo Men Channel in the Zhanjiang sea area is one of the top ten high-risk waters under the jurisdiction of the Guangdong Maritime Bureau. It connects the Naozhou Channel to Zhanjiang Port in the north and leads to the Qiongzhou Strait in the south. It serves as an important passage for small and medium-sized vessels traveling to and from the Qiongzhou Strait from the northeast. The Wai Luo Men Channel is narrow and winding, with rapid currents, numerous shoals, sandbanks, and hidden reefs, as well as frequent changes in sedimentation. The navigation environment is complex, with dense traffic of fishing boats, wind power maintenance vessels, and small to medium-sized cargo ships, making it one of the most complex and high-risk navigation areas in the jurisdiction.

Currently, the waters surrounding Buoys 12 to 15 in the Wai Luo Channel are experiencing the presence of aquaculture cages, fishing nets, and other waterborne obstacles. These navigation obstructions are scattered and, in some cases, encroach on the normal shipping routes, posing a direct threat to navigation safety. Passing vessels are at high risk of incidents such as fishing nets entangling propellers, scraping against aquaculture facilities, or even running aground.

To address the navigation hazards in the channel, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office proactively coordinated with relevant local government units, providing navigation environment analysis and jointly assessing navigation safety risks. Leveraging its expertise in navigation mark technology and equipment, the office undertook preliminary inspections and evidence collection, providing strong technical support for multi-party collaborative efforts to address the hazards.

On September 8, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office, in collaboration with the Xuwen Maritime Office and other units, conducted a comprehensive on-site inspection of aquaculture net gates obstructing navigation in the waters from the Tuodao Buoy to Buoy 12 in the Wai Luo Channel. Staff boarded a maritime patrol vessel and used professional technologies such as net position instruments and differential positioning to conduct a thorough inspection of the obstructions. They counted the number of net gates, accurately collected the coordinates of the obstructions, and simultaneously marked the obstruction points on nautical charts with flags and photographic evidence. A complete base map of obstruction distribution was created. This operation identified a total of 121 obstructing net gates in the waters between the Tuodao Buoy and Buoy 12, and 11 obstructing net gates north of Buoy 12 in the Wai Luo Channel. Subsequently, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office handed over the entire survey results to relevant departments, providing precise and detailed data support for the subsequent centralized clearance and rectification efforts.

Reminder for Safe Ship Navigation

Ships passing through the Wai Luo Men Channel in Zhanjiang Xuwen, please note:

1. Prevent deviation from the navigation channel. If unfamiliar with the channel environment, it is easy to deviate from the channel and enter shallow areas or regions dense with fishing nets. Before navigating the Wai Luo Channel, familiarize yourself with the channel's route, the distribution of obstructions, and the positions of navigation marks. Adjust your course and reduce speed in advance.

2. Prevent collisions between commercial and fishing vessels. Fishing activities are frequent in the Wai Luo Men Channel, significantly increasing the likelihood of encounters between passing commercial vessels and operating fishing boats. Commercial vessels should enhance lookout, detect the movements of surrounding fishing boats early, maintain a safe distance from fishing boats, and reduce speed, sound the horn, and exercise caution when encountering fishing boats engaged in operations such as casting or retrieving nets. Fishing boats should display the required lights and shapes during operations and avoid occupying the main navigation channel for obstructive activities.

3. Prevent vessel grounding. The water depth conditions in the Wai Luo Men Channel are complex. Vessels should closely monitor electronic and paper nautical charts for water depth markings and tidal changes, avoid obstructions and surrounding shallow areas, maintain sufficient under-keel clearance, and navigate cautiously.

4. Prevent fishing net entanglement. Fishing nets are deployed around the Wai Luo Men Channel. Vessels should maintain a safe distance from obstructions and fishing nets. If suspected floating fishing nets are detected, avoid them promptly. In the event of fishing net entanglement, reduce speed, stop immediately, and report to the maritime authorities for assistance as soon as possible.

Moving forward, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office will continue to implement the "Commercial and Fishing Co-management" work plan, fully utilizing its professional navigation support capabilities to create a more stable navigation environment for the safe development of new industries such as wind farms around the Wai Luo Men Channel and the high-quality development of the local marine economy, jointly strengthening the maritime navigation safety defense line in the jurisdiction.