On January 14th, Wenzhou Maritime Safety Administration, Customs, and the Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection Station conducted a joint boarding inspection of the Spanish-flagged vessel "SESTA OKNUTSEN" (length 284.38 meters, gross tonnage 90,478, carrying 165,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas) berthed at the Wenzhou Xiaomen LNG receiving terminal. Utilizing a "one-time boarding, joint inspection, unified feedback" model, this collaborative effort slashed the inspection duration from approximately 8 hours for separate departmental checks to under 2 hours, significantly reducing the vessel's non-operational berthing time and effectively lowering operational costs for the shipping company.
Prior to the joint inspection, the three agencies leveraged the International Trade "Single Window" platform for data sharing, enabling them to pre-assess key information such as the vessel's berthing schedule, crew composition, and cargo type. This facilitated the development of a tailored inspection plan with clearly defined responsibilities and procedural steps, ensuring precision and efficiency.
The maritime authorities focused on verifying ship certificates, navigational safety equipment, and the implementation of anti-pollution measures, concurrently disseminating relevant regulations. Customs officials carried out health quarantine procedures and checked the consistency between cargo declarations and the actual shipment. The border inspection unit verified crew documents and the vessel's voyage history while processing entry formalities.
During the inspection, information was shared in real-time, allowing for the collaborative on-site rectification of minor issues. This approach eliminated the need for multiple boardings and repetitive checks, substantially boosting inspection efficiency.
Acknowledging the hazardous nature of LNG cargo, the three agencies deployed specialized technical personnel to form a dedicated inspection team. This team familiarized itself in advance with the vessel's dangerous goods safety data sheets and, upon boarding, prioritized a coordinated verification of critical aspects such as cargo tank pressure monitoring, emergency equipment configuration, and crew emergency response capabilities.
Simultaneously, an integrated "policy briefing + problem guidance" service was provided directly to the ship's crew. This included explanations of China's latest regulations on dangerous goods transport and port clearance, alongside on-the-spot answers to queries concerning pollution prevention and crew rights protection. New Year's greetings were also extended, successfully balancing strict safety oversight with the delivery of warm, customer-focused port services.
The Zhejiang Energy Wenzhou LNG receiving terminal, located on Xiaomen Island in Datmen Town, Dongtou District, is the largest LNG terminal in southern Zhejiang and the first such project to be independently controlled by a provincial state-owned enterprise in Zhejiang. The terminal currently boasts four LNG storage tanks with a combined capacity of 200,000 cubic meters, an annual natural gas receiving capacity of 3 million tons, and possesses emergency peak-shaving storage capabilities for the East China natural gas pipeline network.
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