Nanjing Yangtze River Waterways Bureau and other departments launch a "combined effort" to ensure navigation safety during the dry season.

Recently, the water level in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River has continued to drop, with the tidal water level falling to 2.09 meters (navigational reference surface). As the Yangtze River's dry season approaches, water levels may continue to decrease, increasing the pressure to maintain channel depth and complicating the navigation environment. In response to this urgent situation, the Yangtze River Nanjing Waterway Bureau has taken proactive measures and forward-looking deployments, coordinating with maritime, public security, and local transportation authorities. With multiple measures and a united effort, they are ensuring safe navigation in the waters where Jiangsu and Anhui meet and where the Yangtze River's main and tributary streams converge, thus providing robust support for the smooth passage of ships in and out of the Jiangsu section.

Increased Probing and Proactive Buoy Adjustment to Ensure Clearance

Fanjiaji Waterway is the "first stop" for downstream vessels entering Jiangsu along the Yangtze River's main channel. Its maintenance standards are directly related to the navigation safety of downstream vessels. Facing the lowering water levels, the Yangtze River Nanjing Waterway Bureau responded rapidly by promptly organizing intensive probing of key areas in the waterway. Based on probing results, they analyzed and assessed the situation to develop an optimized navigation plan.

After gaining approval from higher authorities, the bureau quickly responded and meticulously planned, completing the adjustment of the key #153-1 red buoy to ensure the water depth in this area meets maintenance requirements. Following the buoy adjustment, the bureau conducted a full-area channel inspection, with a particular focus on the waters from Dashengguan Railway Bridge to the Jiangxinzhou Yangtze River Bridge group and areas under construction for hydraulic projects, keeping daily attention on risk points.

One-Stop Service and Joint Safeguard for Smooth Navigation

The Wujing River Estuary crossing lies at the junction of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. It is not only a crucial channel for Anhui River ships entering and exiting the Yangtze River mainline but also a necessary gateway for the Sima Mountain Main Canal to enter the Yangtze. With a monthly average of over 1,000 shipping trips, it is rightfully referred to as the "water artery" of the Jiangsu-Anhui boundary area.

To safeguard this artery, the Yangtze River Nanjing Waterway Bureau collaborated with related units to establish a "Joint Inspection Service Station for the Converging Waters of the Wujing River Estuary." The Dashengguan Waterway Office, in conjunction with the Meishan Maritime Office, organized multiple day-and-night patrols. They monitored the newly adjusted navigation buoys in the Fanjiaji Waterway and the smart warning buoys in the reef-laden lower section of the Wujing Waterway. Additionally, safety alerts were communicated to passing vessels, ensuring that "regulation holds firmness and service exudes warmth," right from the ship's bow.

Two Zones Assembly for Joint Inspections to Eliminate Hazards

Yangtze River Nanjing Waterway Bureau, in cooperation with maritime, public security, and local transportation authorities, assembled in the Cihu River Estuary and Wujing River Estuary areas at the junction of Jiangsu and Anhui. They conducted joint inspections of the navigation environment, anchorage vessel parking order, and waterway buoys in the boundary waters. Emphasis was placed on safety, pollution prevention, and public security awareness for key vessels such as those carrying hazardous materials, LNG-powered vessels, and ships transporting easily combustible or self-heating coal.

Integrating Efforts Along the Main and Tributary Streams to Safeguard Navigation. The waterway, maritime, public security, and local transportation authorities have joined forces, working in unison with concrete measures to continuously address bottlenecks and pain points in navigation along the Jiangsu-Anhui boundary waters. This concerted effort has built a solid safety barrier for the high-quality shipping development in the Jiangsu-Anhui section of the Yangtze River.