To implement the requirements of the National Maritime Search and Rescue and Major Maritime Oil Spill Emergency Response Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference, as well as to strengthen regional emergency response capabilities for maritime collisions involving commercial and fishing vessels, the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center organized the “2025 Commercial and Fishing Vessel Collision Comprehensive Drill” in the waters of Dalian, Liaoning Province, on June 18.
The drill simulated a collision near Dalian Port between a bulk carrier and a fishing vessel, resulting in a bow fire aboard the bulk carrier caused by an electrical short circuit and the capsizing of the fishing vessel. Crew members faced critical situations, with some falling into the water and others trapped inside the overturned vessel, a total of 30 individuals in distress. Upon receiving the alarm, the Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration Command Center swiftly verified the incident and reported it to the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center. Following the maritime emergency response plan, a first-level emergency response was activated, mobilizing 28 rescue vessels, 1 helicopter, 3 drones, 1 unmanned boat, 2 ambulances, 2 emergency communication systems, and over 300 personnel, including professional rescue teams, maritime authorities, fire brigades, port operators, and social volunteers.
The drill emphasized “comprehensive elements”, simulating a full-chain emergency response process. It included alert verification, response planning, rescuing individuals in the water, airlifting and treating injured personnel, firefighting aboard the bulk carrier, public relations management, and rescuing trapped crew members from the overturned fishing vessel, providing a thorough, real-world test of emergency handling capabilities.
The drill focused on “scientific search and rescue”. The maritime authorities utilized the Transportation Dispatch and Emergency Command System and the Smart Maritime Surveillance System for dynamic detection, response planning, and drift simulation of individuals in the water. The Dalian Maritime Safety Administration’s Vessel Traffic Management Center issued timely guidance to the passing ships to avoid the collision area. Cutting-edge equipment was also deployed, including sea-air amphibious vehicles, aerial rescue devices, unmanned search boats, and surface rescue robots, forming a high-efficient intelligent rescue framework.
The frill highlighted “collaborative efficiency”. the drill incorporated corporate resources into the practical exercise, demonstrating seamless governance through “systematic operation and cross-domain collaboration.” It tested a new model of cooperative governance between government, enterprises, and society, so as to refine the rapid response mechanisms and strengthened collaborative strategies for handling unexpected incidents.
This drill, as a key practice for preventing and mitigating major risks, has significantly enhanced the capabilities in maritime risk perception, handling complex emergencies, and coordinating multi-party responses. It attained the desired results of familiarizing participants with contingency plans, testing the emergency mechanisms, training emergency response teams, and improving emergency preparedness. The exercise enabled participants to accumulate practical experience in efficiently responding to sudden merchant-fishing vessel collisions, providing more reliable and robust waterway safety assurance for accelerating the implementation of the strategy to build China into a power in transportation.
More than 150 individuals observed the drill on-site, including officials from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, heads of maritime search and rescue centers on provincial and municipal levels of Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, etc., as well as leaders from member units and relevant organizations of the Liaoning Provincial and Dalian Municipal Maritime Search and Rescue Centers. Also presented are the representatives of press agencies and the public.
Source from: China Traffic News