On June 28, Haikou Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-center held a comprehensive exercise of 2022 Maritime Emergency Rescue of Qiongzhou Strait Ro-Ro Passenger Vessels at the No. 4 anchorage of Xiuying Port in Haikou. Haikou Maritime Safety Administration, Haikou Communication Center of Southern Navigation Service Center, Haikou Base of Nanhai Rescue Bureau, Comprehensive Administration and Law Enforcement Bureau of Haikou City, Emergency Center in Haikou City and other 14 units participated in the exercise, as well as 13 various types of vessels, 1 ambulance, 1 drone and more than 200 staff members.
The exercise simulated the collision between the southbound ro-ro passenger vessel "Tian Yue" and the westbound cargo ship "Yuan Peng" when the stern propeller was entangled in a fishing net in the central waters of Qiongzhou Strait, causing the main engine to fail and the ship to lose control. The collision caused four passengers of the vessel "Tian Yue" to fall into the water and disappeared, while the ship tilted and the vehicle shifted, causing a fire. The exercise mainly set up five subjects, including temporary traffic control and emergency traffic organization, overboard search and rescue, large-scale personnel transfer, ship fire rescue and salvage towage.
The exercise focused on practice, aiming to practice for warfare, to promote learning, and to strengthen the ability. as well as to constantly explore and verify the rescue method, to train the emergency response teams and improve regional linkage mechanisms. Firstly, through the simulation exercise, we further explored the methods and ways of large-scale personnel transfer on water, and accumulated experience for the worldwide problem of large-scale personnel transfer on water. Secondly, we invited the persons in charge of various ro-ro passenger vessel companies in Qiongzhou Strait and the staff on board to observe and learn on site and learn from each other, which further improved the proficiency of ro-ro passenger transport in Qiongzhou Strait. Thirdly, the exercise launched the "Qiongzhou Strait Marine Emergency Response Joint Cooperation Mechanism", which further strengthened the coordination among the four maritime search and rescue sub-centers in Haikou, Zhanjiang, Qinglan and Yangpu in Hainan and Guangdong provinces through practical exercises. Fourthly, the exercise set up temporary traffic control and salvage towage for the first time, which were more realistic, authentic, practical, and targeted.
The exercise was based on the actual situation, well-organized, well-directed and standardized, with orderly coordination among departments, strong support from rescue forces, and also tacit cooperation, rapid response and proper handling in all aspects, which not only showed the professionalization of the Haikou Marine Search and Rescue Sub-center and member units in dealing with emergencies at sea, but also trained the search and rescue team and tested the achievements of search and rescue construction in recent years. In addition, it also enhanced the cooperation and exchanges among the sub-centres in the Qiongzhou Strait waters, laying the foundation for a sound and efficient rescue mechanism in the region. This exercise was an opportunity for Haikou Marine Search and Rescue Sub-center to further improve and enhance the marine emergency rescue management system and capabilities in the Qiongzhou Strait in line with the development of Hainan Free Trade Port, and create a good water traffic environment for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Reprinted from: China Transportation News Network