On March 11, at approximately 1300 local time, a 23 gross ton passenger ship (ferry boat) crashed with an unidentified cargo vessel (loaded with ceramic clay) in the water of Xunjiang River near the City of Guiping in south west China.
The woeful accident left with 2 dead and about 6 still missing. According to the boat owner, there were about 38 passengers on board. The local authorities have already established investigation into this case.
As told by a Guangxi MSA (Maritime Safety Administration) official who is close with this case on condition of anonymity, the designated passenger load for this ferry boat is 30. Noting that they had 38 people on board when the tragedy took place, he said it was obviously against regulations. “After the school bus accident month ago, the entire MSA system has also started a water transportation safety inspection campaign to ensure there is no carriage of over capacity on passenger ships. The owner crossed the line too much.”
Talking about the accident itself he added, “It was rainy and misty that afternoon, the visibility is below average. The accident water is at a three-way cross lane and the water flow velocity is relatively high. Apparently, there was no necessary watch keeping on both vessels during the accident. It is always mandatory to have a duty officer at bridge when navigating”. At the end of the phone conversation, he also expressed his hope for the implementation of AIS to small ships in Guangxi inland rivers to strengthen the safety of lives and properties.
Early this year on February 21, the Ministry of Transport issued a notice stating from 2012 MSA will begin installing AIS to ships navigating at inland waters for free. That move was set to be in accordance with the State Council’s “guidelines on speeding up the development of waterborne transportation in Yangtze River and other inland rivers”. It is planning to make all passage ships, roll-rolls, high speed crafts, sightseeing boats and ships carrying dangerous good to be equipped with AIS irrelevant of size in three years.
With the aid of AIS system we can easily be aware of and identify nearby vessels even in bad weathers, and make certain anti-collision maneuverings in advance especially through complex waterways. The accident on Xunjiang River will definitely have a lower possibility from happening again in the future.