Multiple departments in Qingdao, Shandong province, jointly conducted a maritime law enforcement operation, resulting in the seizure of a fishing vessel that was illegally using an AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal.
The Qingdao Municipal Ocean Development Bureau announced on the 26th that it had recently collaborated with the Qingdao Maritime Safety Administration and the Laoshan District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau to carry out a surprise maritime enforcement action.
During the operation, the joint task force intercepted a fishing vessel that had repeatedly and disorderly crossed navigation channels while fraudulently using an AIS signal, effectively deterring illegal activities at sea.
The AIS system functions to identify vessels, assist in tracking targets, and streamline information exchange.
The act of a fishing vessel misusing an AIS signal violates regulations stipulated in the Maritime Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, posing significant safety risks and potential social harm.
Such violations can easily conceal illegal activities like smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal fishing, mislead the navigational judgments of nearby vessels, substantially increase the risk of ship collisions, and cause inaccuracies in search and rescue centers when attempting to locate distressed vessels.
Leveraging an "online monitoring and offline patrol" coordination mechanism, the joint task force precisely identified and targeted the vessel in waters near Dagong Island on January 24th.
After gaining control of the vessel, law enforcement officers boarded it to conduct an on-site investigation and gather evidence.
Verification confirmed the vessel's true registration was "Ji * Yu 01**8," but it was illegally operating in Qingdao waters using the AIS signal of "Lu * Yu 60**8," with the facts of the violation being clear and the evidence conclusive.
Throughout the enforcement process, the joint task force strictly adhered to the principles of "rigorous, civilized, and impartial law enforcement."
The vessel's captain admitted to the violations, fully acknowledging that such actions not only broke the law but also severely endangered the safety of his crew, his vessel, and other passing ships.
The captain sincerely admitted his mistake on the spot, proactively cooperated with the investigation, and assisted officers in dismantling the illegal equipment to eliminate the safety hazard.
The case is currently under further investigation and processing.
Moving forward, the Qingdao Municipal Ocean Development Bureau, the Qingdao Maritime Safety Administration, and other relevant departments will continue to deepen the multi-departmental joint law enforcement and supervision model.
They plan to further intensify the frequency and scope of maritime patrols, routinely conduct public awareness campaigns on maritime traffic safety laws, and crack down hard on various maritime offenses.
These efforts aim to guide those in the fishing industry to consciously enhance their legal and safety awareness, working together to safeguard the security and stability of Qingdao's waters.
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