Xining, September 3, 2024 (China News Service) — In a significant development for maritime safety and navigation, the Qinghai Provincial Department of Communications and Transportation announced the release of the province’s first nautical chart of navigable waters, effective 2024. The chart, compiled by the Qinghai Maritime Administration (Provincial Waterway Administration) and supervised by the Qinghai Provincial Department of Communications and Transportation, aims to provide comprehensive and detailed information on the distribution, names, areas, routes, levels, and other critical data of navigable waters across the province.
Key Elements and Data
The newly released nautical chart includes a multitude of essential data points to aid in navigation and maritime management. These elements encompass the distribution of various districts, names of navigable waters, their areas, route names, levels of waterways, distances, names of docks, coordinates, names of shipping companies, port of registry, and registration agencies, levels of navigation areas, locations of Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Very High Frequency (VHF) stations, and the distribution and names of rescue centers, all of which are managed by the respective units. This detailed information is designed to meet the needs of various stakeholders, including administrative units, law enforcement agencies, shipping companies, and other water-related departments.
Expansion and Development in Water Transportation
As of the latest update, Qinghai has established 16 navigable waterways with a total length of 662.69 kilometers, equipped with 32 docks and 60 berths. The province has also constructed a total of 1 central emergency rescue center, 6 rescue command centers, 3 rescue terminals, and 21 VHF stations, equipped with 7 AIS bases and 42 navigation aids. There are currently 15 shipping companies registered in the province, with a total of 985 crew members, and 6 registration agencies with 6 ports of registry. A total of 226 registered ships (156 operational ships) are documented, with a passenger capacity of 3,809.
Enhanced Management and Planning
Given the growing numbers of ships and crew members, as well as the increasing volume of waterborne tourism, passenger traffic, and logistics, the Qinghai Maritime Administration (Provincial Waterway Administration) initiated the project to compile the nautical chart of navigable waters. This initiative addresses the scarcity of basic data on navigable waters and the lack of comprehensive information for safety and management, facilitating effective navigation management and regional planning. The project encompasses the entire navigable water areas in Qinghai’s six regions, including Hainan, Haibei, Haixi, Hainan, and Huangnan, as well as the geographical and topographical features of waterways.
Conclusion
The release of this comprehensive nautical chart is a significant step forward in enhancing safety and navigation in Qinghai’s navigable waters. It not only provides a detailed map for maritime navigation but also serves as a critical tool for administrative and management purposes, ensuring smoother operations and enhanced safety for maritime activities. This initiative underscores the province’s commitment to advancing maritime infrastructure and fostering a safer and more efficient maritime environment.
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