The 2026 Spring Festival travel period concluded on March 13th. During the 40-day critical test of ensuring energy supply, the Nantong Maritime Safety Administration concentrated its efforts on securing LNG transport operations at Yangkou Port's Sunshine Island. The administration successfully ensured the safe berthing and departure of 7 LNG carrier vessels, facilitating the unloading of 626,000 tons of liquefied natural gas. This effort provided a solid foundation for the waterborne transportation necessary to meet the energy demands of industrial production and residential consumption in the East China region throughout the Spring Festival holiday.
Functioning as a vital clean energy hub for East China, Yangkou Port's Sunshine Island holds a central role in the region's energy supply security. The task of ensuring LNG transport was significantly intensified during the travel rush due to the combined pressures of peak holiday energy consumption and periods of low temperatures. In preparation, the Nantong Maritime Safety Administration engaged in advanced planning and precise deployment. Prior to the start of the travel period, officials proactively visited and coordinated with the CNPC LNG terminal on Sunshine Island. They conducted a comprehensive review of vessel schedules and cargo volumes, developed customized support plans, and carried out specialized pre-holiday safety inspections. These actions urged companies to reinforce their primary responsibility for safety and improve their closed-loop management systems for identifying and addressing potential risks.
To guarantee the safety and efficiency of the LNG transport route, the administration established a support system integrating "smart supervision with multi-dimensional patrols." Utilizing information technologies such as VTS, AIS, and smart maritime systems, they implemented full-voyage dynamic tracking of LNG carriers. Furthermore, they collaborated with meteorological, port, and fisheries authorities to strengthen control over key waterways, promptly clearing navigational hazards and issuing severe weather warnings. A "green channel" for energy transport during the travel rush was also established, strictly implementing a "four priorities" policy: priority declaration, priority review, priority pilotage, and priority for berthing/departure. This optimized traffic scheduling processes, enabling LNG carriers to proceed directly to berth upon arrival and depart directly after unloading. A multi-departmental coordination mechanism was put in place to efficiently resolve various challenges encountered during vessel operations, thereby building comprehensive safety safeguards.
Securing a stable energy supply is fundamental to public welfare. The Nantong Maritime Safety Administration will continue to develop and refine long-term mechanisms for energy transport security, enhance regulatory services, and dedicate efforts to safeguarding the safety and smooth operation of the waterborne transport route for energy supplies at Sunshine Island. This commitment aims to provide reliable and ongoing maritime support for the high-quality economic development of the region and the energy security of its residents.
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