Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office Launches Special Initiative to Serve the Fishing Season

Recently, the summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea ended, and a large number of fishing vessels set out to sea, leading to an increase in the intersection of commercial and fishing vessels and a corresponding rise in navigation safety risks. To ensure maritime navigation safety during the fishing season, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office took proactive measures, collaborated with multiple units, delved into the frontlines of navigation safety, and launched a series of special actions to build a solid safety barrier for maritime users.

Focusing on key waters, special safety inspections were carried out. Targeting key areas such as the Qiongzhou Strait, the Outer Luomen Waterway, Zhanjiang Port, the Bay Bridge, and Yangjiang Shapa Port, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office organized multiple special safety inspections. These included on-site checks of navigation mark operations, the navigation order of commercial and fishing vessels, offshore wind power operations, and the distribution of navigation obstacles. They identified navigation risk points, analyzed the navigation environment, and thoroughly assessed the navigation situation during the fishing season, continuously optimizing the navigation environment in the jurisdiction. Additionally, they collaborated with the Zhanjiang Communication Center to monitor maritime radio signals, purify the maritime communication environment, and ensure stable and reliable vessel communication.

Deepening collaborative efforts to build a strong maritime safety network. The Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office continued to advance the practice of "joint governance of commercial and fishing vessels," seizing the golden window period of the summer fishing moratorium. They proactively coordinated with multiple units, including the Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration, Maoming Maritime Safety Administration, Xuwen County People's Government, and Yangxi County Marine Development Bureau, to deepen business collaboration and improve the efficiency of collision prevention and maritime emergency response. They worked to address navigation safety risks at their source, resolve bottlenecks and challenges in maritime navigation safety management, and effectively build a safety barrier for fishery workers and port and shipping enterprises, providing them with a "safety assurance." The aim is to establish a multi-party participation, co-construction, co-governance, and shared maritime safety framework.

Delving into the frontlines of shipping to conduct thorough navigation needs research. Staff from the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office strengthened their efforts to board vessels and conduct visits, engaging in face-to-face discussions with captains and on-duty crew members to understand the real challenges faced by frontline crew in collision prevention and obtaining maritime navigation information. On-site, staff collected feedback from crew members on the current distribution of navigation marks and navigation aid services, investigated the practical effectiveness of intelligent terminals of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) in navigation safety assessments, and conducted user satisfaction surveys to pinpoint directions for optimizing navigation support services. Based on the research findings, they conducted navigation environment analysis and assessments, providing recommendations to frontline crew to help them avoid risks associated with dense fishing vessel navigation.

Next, the Zhanjiang Navigation Mark Office will continue to uphold a service-oriented approach, transforming the findings from earlier inspections and research into practical measures. They will normalize efforts in navigation mark maintenance, risk inspections, and safety promotion, continuously optimizing the navigation environment, enhancing the precision of navigation support services, and contributing to the stable and high-quality development of the regional marine fishery economy.