Since the change of office term in November 2019, the China Institute of Navigation has followed the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and fully implemented the guiding principles of the Party’s 19th National Congress and the second, third, fourth and fifth Plenary Sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee, strengthened our consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, followed the leadership core, and kept in alignment, stayed confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, resolutely upheld General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and resolutely upheld the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. The institute construction was closely committed to the main principle of the “Double-First Class”, and integrated political, advanced and mass nature into the services for science and technology workers, for innovation-driven development, for improving the scientific literacy for all people as well as for the scientific decision-making of the Party and government，carried through the requirements of the efforts to improve the system and mechanism, promote structural adjustment, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and ensure the livelihood of our people from beginning to end, served the overall development upon focusing and emphasizing the central point. It worked to extend the effective coverage, transfer and expand functions, stress reinforce the self-construction, intensify the system reform, ignite the dynamism of the institute, and further progress was made in the practice of the inheritance, innovation, and development that showed the new atmosphere and new deeds of the institute for the new era, which has shaped the new pattern and style of the institute 's advancement.
Over the past year, the institute went further in reform and innovation capacity building, and comprehensively promoted the modernization of governance ability and system; forcefully creating the academic activity brands guided by the China Maritime Forum and the Annual Academic Conference of the China Institute of Navigation, building a new ecology of integration over the government, industry, university, research and application; establishing the Nautical Think Tanks in China and offering services for the national strategy; issuing the Report on the Development of Navigation Science and Technology in China and gathering cross-border intelligence to help the industry’s high-quality development; Self-administering and managing the Navigation of China and Marine Technology, strengthening the ability to run publications and innovating the operation mechanism; reforming and improving the institute’s award system, and promoting the establishment of its league standard, while strengthening the ability to undertake the transferred functions of government; activating the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative international port and maritime science and technology alliance so as to expand and improve the mechanism of the international exchange and cooperation; setting up the cooperation mechanism for the China Institute of Navigation to produce a new space for collaboration; pushing the navigation education for the teenagers into schools, and looking for the new ideas upon cultivating the talent reserve forces in the strategy of building a strong maritime power. Under the correct leadership of the China Association for Science and Technology and the strong support of the Ministry of Transport, the Council and the Party committee of the China Institute of Navigation enjoy clear directions and specific goals, so that the institute has made glorious achievements in all walks of its work, and its environment and ecology have been significantly improved as well in the past year with the concerted efforts of the professionals from all levels and institutions.
The magnetic compass technical service is not only a concrete demonstration of the institute scientific and technical services, but also a specific item to undertake the transferred functions of government. Today we will work together in the form of the live meeting to research and discuss the relevant issues upon the magnetic compass technical service, next I will make a work report for your consideration on behalf of the technical service department of magnetic compass.
A. Review our work in 2020
The year of 2020 is an dramatically extraordinary year! The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world has brought great threats to our daily life and work, while the flow of people and the logistics has been greatly restricted as well, and the work related to the technical service department of magnetic compass and all divisions has also suffered unprecedented impacts；2020 is also the first year for the official implementation of the Administrative Measures of the People’s Republic of China on the Training, Examination and Certification of Magnetic Compass Adjustment Personnel issued by the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport, and there is a big challenge about how to understand the new measures and deal with the relationship among the Maritime Safety Administration, the institute and the magnetic compass adjustment personnel under the new circumstances. With the strong support of the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport and the guidance of the leadership of the institute as well as the joint efforts made by all the magnetic compass divisions and its adjustment personnel, the technical service work of magnetic compass of the China Institute of Navigation has boasted remarkable achievements, which are mainly shown in the following aspects.
1. In the whole year, there were 21,479 adjusted ships and 24,697 adjusted magnetic compasses with an increase of 3.85% and 3.57% respectively compared with that in 2019.
Among them :(1) Guangzhou -6,319 ships /6,523 units; (2) Zhejiang -4,447 ships /6,325 units; (3) Shanghai - 2,722 ships / 2,741 units; (4) Jiangsu -1,501 ships /1,519 units; (5) Fujian - 1,527 ships / 1,604 units; (6) Shandong -1,056 ships /1,078 units; (7) Liaoning -486 ships /492 units; (8) Zhanjiang -450 ships /643 units; (9) Xiamen -413 ships /472 units; (10) Hebei -299 ships /327 units; (11) Guangxi -255 ships /287 units; (12) Tianjin -190 ships /206 units; (13) Hainan -186 ships /220 units; (14) Shenzhen -169 ships /176 units; (15) Wuhan -168 ships /179 units.
2. Revised the organization and management measures of the technical service department of magnetic compass.
The organization and management measures of the technical service department of magnetic compass in China Institute of Navigation have been revised comprehensively and will be formally implemented on August 6 in response to the related issues reflected in the magnetic compass technical service and management, and so as to meet the needs for the development and administration of this department.
We also extensively asked all the magnetic compass divisions as well as the front-line adjusters for advice. And the newly revised service management measure is more comprehensive and detailed in terms of the organizational structure of the technical service department of magnetic compass and all divisions, the magnetic compass adjustment service, the management of magnetic compass deviation table, the division management, the fee and financial management, and the adjuster management, or etc., which all contributed to the formation of the newly revised management measures.
3. Revised the assessment and management measures of the technical service department of magnetic compass in China Institute of Navigation.
In order to meet the new growth and development demand of the magnetic compass technical service work and assess the adjusted service matter in all magnetic compass divisions more objectively and accurately, the headquarter has comprehensively revised and formally implemented the old “assessment and management measures” on the basis of consulting opinions from all divisions. The new assessment and management measures will be more objective to reflect the comprehensive performance of each division, more clearly oriented, operative, and balanced with fairness and justice.
4. Activating fully the “magnetic compass deviation table” printed by the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport.
On August 6, 2020, the “magnetic compass deviation table” printed by the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport was officially put into use, and the old version of 2016 “magnetic compass deviation table” retained in all divisions was fully recovered. This is not a simple change of the table, but a reform. The application channel of the table has undergone a huge change while the use of the table has changed significantly as well, and we have done in an orderly manner in the course of this change.
5. The on-line working conference of the magnetic compass technical service in China Institute of Navigation in 2020 was held.
With the help of the science and technology, the department held timely the on-line working conference in 2020 immediately, explaining interpreting the newly revised organization and management measures of the technical service department of magnetic compass in China Institute of Navigation, setting the tasks and plans under the new regulations, circumstances, and challenges, and issuing clear requirements.
6. Held the training course for magnetic compass adjuster successfully in 2020.
In the case of overcoming the adverse effects brought by the pandemic and ensuring the safety of epidemic prevention, the technical service department of magnetic compass in China Institute of Navigation has successfully held the 2020 training course for magnetic compass adjuster successfully in Shanghai in October 2020.
There were 48 trainees participated in the magnetic compass theory and practical training which lasted for 12 days.
Among the 48 trainees who participated in the training, 37 trainees have passed the magnetic compass theory and practical examination organized by the Maritime Safety Administration with a pass rate of 77.1%, which is the highest rate in recent years.
7. Finished the renewal of the expired certificate of the magnetic compass adjuster in 2020.
A total of 40 adjusters whose certificates have expired were reissued with new certificates.
8. Investigated the magnetic compass division.
The new Administrative Measures of the People’s Republic of China on the Training, Examination and Certification of Magnetic Compass Adjustment Personnel has been implemented on November 21, 2019. The China Institute of Navigation has revised and carried out the new administrative measures of the magnetic compass adjustment and the management of related organizations again in August 2020.
In order to increase the communications and exchanges between all the local magnetic compass divisions and front-line adjusters, fully get the defects from which in the practice of the management and adjustment upon the magnetic compass, find out the issues caused by the use and management of the magnetic compass deviation table, and further regulate the adjusted service and management of the magnetic compass, in the second half of 2020, the institute conducted a deep investigation on Tianjin division, Hebei division, Shandong division and Shanghai division of the technical service department of magnetic compass respectively in the premise that the domestic epidemic was effectively controlled. It directly communicated with the technical service management personnel and adjusters of the magnetic compass face to face, and discussed deeply about the experience and problems encountered in the adjustment and management in all the local magnetic compass divisions.
The year of 2020 is an extraordinary yet extremely tough year! The achievements we mentioned above are gained by our staffs of the China Institute of Navigation who face to the challenge, overcome the difficulties and pursue the success,. We own our achievements more to even under the strong support of the Ministry of Transport, as is shown in the reply by and its general office clearly replied to the China Institute of Navigation report that , “Regarding the ship magnetic compass adjusted service and the ship inspection specification, our ministry will give our proactive support to the institute upon the ship magnetic compass adjusted service and invite the experts of the institute to participate in the review of the ship technical regulations.” Up here, on behalf of president He Jianzhong, I’d like to express our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Transport and the Maritime Safety Administration who give the full support to the China Institute of Navigation all the time, and our thanks to the leaders and managers of the magnetic compass divisions for your careful management and active running, as well as and present our heartfelt thanks appreciation to the magnetic compass adjusters worked in the front-line who are willing to bear risks and pull through the difficulties.
B. Circumstances and challenges
1. According to the statistical analysis of the “online entry system” of magnetic compass adjustment, there are about 58,000 ships registered in the system at present, while the average number of adjusted ships shown in the system is about 20,000 ships every year. If we exclude 9,500 ships of 3,000 gross tons and above that can be self- adjusted, there are nearly 28,500 ships fail to undergo the formal magnetic compass adjustment, which accounts for 49.1% of the total ship volume.
2. Through the detailed statistics and verification for the signed magnetic compass adjusters made by all divisions, there are currently 343 magnetic compass adjusters contracted with all magnetic compass technical service divisions, including 311 magnetic compass adjusters who can only adjust the Chinese ships and 32 magnetic compass adjusters who can adjust both Chinese ships and foreign ships.
Since the China Institute of Navigation formally established the technical service department of magnetic compass in 1985, there are 563 people have passed the training and examination and scored the qualifications of magnetic compass adjusters.
By comparing the data, the loss rate of magnetic compass adjusters is about 39%, which is more seriously. a serious loss.
3. At present, we can find some fake magnetic compass deviation tables in the market sometimes, and some shipping companies and ships refuse to carry out the formal magnetic compass adjustment from time to time just for petty gains.
It’s easy to find out through the above analysis that there is a huge market demand for the technical service of magnetic compass adjustment on the one hand, and the number of ships that fail to follow the required annual regular magnetic compass adjustment for various reasons accounts for more than half of the registered ships in the system, which is not a fine analysis or an accurate data, while how many foreign ships are there in among the ships we have finished the adjustment? What’s more, how many foreign ships calling at the Chinese ports need the magnetic compass adjustment service every year? On the other hand, are our magnetic compass adjusters able to meet the current market demand? Importantly, how many fake tables existing in the market right now? These are the things we must pay attention to in the course of our work.
C. The tasks and requirements in 2021
Magnetic compass, a traditional and effective navigation aid, can ensure the navigation safety of ships. It is a compulsory navigation instrument specified in relevant international conventions and an important part of the port states’ safety supervision and management over ships as well. At the same time, the ship’s “magnetic compass deviation table” is also one of the ship’s statutory certificates required and checked by the maritime regulatory department.
Every manager and adjuster should attach great importance to the magnetic compass adjustment service in their minds and consciousnesses in the daily technical service and management of magnetic compass, and they are supposed to realize the merits or demerits of the magnetic compass deviation adjustment which is directly related to the safety of the ship’s navigation.
The adjustment of magnetic compass is a part of the scientific and technical service of the China Institute of Navigation. We will continue to do a good job in the adjustment and management of the technical service of the magnetic compass as usual under the unified leadership of the institute, and better serve for the ships, finish the tasks assigned to us by the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport with high quality, while summarizing the successful experiences and making up for the shortcomings in our work, therefore, we have to do the following aspects of matters:
1. Further strengthen the technical service and management of magnetic compass.
I give the priority to the management because it is the most important work of the magnetic compass technical service. If we would like to boast a perfect management, we must improve the system, then set a clear direction, and finally assess the work comprehensively with a strict reward and punishment mechanism. Thereupon, the technical service department of magnetic compass in China Institute of Navigation revised the assessment and reward measures, and we also put the management in the first place in the newly measures.
We would further tighten the assessment and management of all divisions, managers and front-line adjusters based on the newly revised and implemented assessment and reward measures of the technical service department of magnetic compass. By strengthening the assessment and management, we are able to conduct the performance assessment of the magnetic compass technical service from the main aspects such as the ship adjustment volume, annual increment of the ship adjustment as well as its compliance and legality so as to further drive the development of the magnetic compass adjustment service and management in all divisions forwards through the comprehensive and objective assessments.
2. Promote the change adjustment of the charging standard for the magnetic compass adjustment service.
The current implemented charging standard of the magnetic compass adjustment service was issued in 1995. As the socio-economic development within these 2 decades, the implemented charging standards at present cannot meet the needs of the current magnetic compass technical service, which is not conducive to mobilizing the enthusiasm of the front-line magnetic compass adjusters and fails the stability and development of the team of magnetic compass adjusters.
By changing adjusting the charging standard of the magnetic compass adjustment service, we can create advantages for the further adjustment of the income distribution mechanism of the magnetic compass. We need to provide the sense of fulfillment to our front-line adjusters through the income change so that they could be more active upon their work and offer better adjustment services to more ships, as a result, it will help the magnetic compass technical service enjoy a healthy growth.
3. Explore the tackleing of the long-standing problematic issues in the adjustment service and management of magnetic compass.
The long-standing problematic issues in the adjustment service and management of magnetic compass includeing the copy and piracy of the magnetic compass deviation table, the existence of the fake magnetic compass deviation table, and the various illegal operations during the adjustment service. And they still exist despite years of governance and rectification.
To solve the problematic issues that we mentioned above, we should start with the management and technical means, and all divisions should work together with the headquarter to prevent such problems from occurring fundamentally.
Therefore, we need to explore and promote the paperless and informatization of the magnetic compass adjustment. We must figure out the necessity of paperless magnetic compass adjustment based on the preliminary work and ensure its feasibility in both management and technology as well.
4. Improve the quality and efficiency of magnetic compass adjustment service in terms of the PSC inspection.
All the magnetic compass divisions should actively communicate with the local Maritime Safety Administration, strengthen the supervision about whether the ships have performed the effective magnetic compass adjustment through the PSC inspection of Maritime Safety Administration, so that all ships can realize the great importance of it. We can not only reduce the “falsification” of the magnetic compass adjustment but also increase the “quantity” of our adjustment by this measure.
5. Further strengthen the construction of the team of magnetic compass adjusters.
Cultivating a team of magnetic compass adjusters with exquisite skills and excellent work style can help us to ensure the completion of the magnetic compass technical service fundamentally. We should not only intensify the training of the adjusters, but also attach greater importance to their protections. The Six Affairs about 2021 CIN Member Service has been issued and implemented, which will make all magnetic compass adjusters who can only adjust the domestic ships and adjusters who can adjust ships from home and abroad enjoy the sense of gains and happiness; all divisions should clarify the relationship with adjustment personnel and define their responsibilities and obligations.
The technical service department of magnetic compass in China Institute of Navigation has gone come through 37 years since its founding in 1984, and its magnetic compass technical service has scored comprehensive development under the support of all leaders and the concerted efforts made by our staffs. But at the same time, some problems often occurred during the magnetic compass adjustment service and management, which reveals that there are still flaws in the technical service and management of magnetic compass. We must pay more attention to the magnetic compass adjustment service in our minds at first, and change our thoughts upon the management, using the new technical means in operation so as to effectively ensure the healthy growth of the magnetic compass technical service when we face up to these defects, dealing with them and improving the quality of work.
Dear partners, let us work together to contribute to the “Double-First Class” construction of China Institute of Navigation with practical actions, and pay tribute to the Centennial founding of the great Communist Party of China.
Thank you!
China Institute of Navigation
May 12, 2021