Ship collisions with bridges have occurred occasionally in recent years, posing significant risks of severe social impact and loss of life and property. In response, the Ningbo Maritime Authority has drawn lessons from past incidents and actively promoted a shift from passive protection to active defense for bridge safety in its jurisdiction. This initiative aligns with the implementation of the "Work Plan for Investigating and Addressing Safety Risks of Ship-Bridge Collisions" jointly issued by three government ministries.
Recently, under the guidance of the authority, an active ship collision warning system at Daxie Bridge completed its trial operation and passed inspection. This marks the first such digital intelligent warning system officially put into use along the Ningbo coast. Daxie Bridge serves as a vital link between Beilun and Daxie Island, with a total length of approximately 4.35 kilometers. The navigable clearance under the bridge allows for ships with a deadweight tonnage of less than 3,000 and a height not exceeding 18 meters. Nearly 20 vessels pass through the area daily. Given the continuous navigation demands, effectively reducing risks such as vessel deviation and excessive height has been a key focus of safety supervision in the bridge area.
Traditional physical anti-collision facilities have limitations, often failing to provide early warnings and only offering cushioning effects after an incident. The newly deployed system addresses this weakness by offering round-the-clock early detection and timely alerts, significantly enhancing the technical safeguards for ship collision prevention in the bridge area. In principle, the system functions as the "eyes and brain" of the bridge. Within a range of about 1.5 kilometers on both sides of the bridge, equipment such as video surveillance, laser height measurement, and automatic identification systems (AIS) are installed to continuously collect data on vessel position, speed, course, and height. Using intelligent algorithms, the system analyzes this information and can immediately identify abnormal vessel trajectories or potential collision risks.
When a risk is detected, on-site loudspeakers and warning lights are activated simultaneously. Additionally, voice alerts are transmitted to ship pilots via very high frequency (VHF) communication, prompting timely adjustments to course or speed to mitigate risks at an early stage. This system contributes to improving overall safety in the bridge area and offers valuable experience for bridge safety management. With the increased travel and transportation of energy supplies during the current May Day holiday period, the maritime authority will prioritize the routine operation of this system as a key measure to deepen the investigation and management of ship-bridge collision risks. Further efforts will include guiding bridge management to optimize system parameters and enhance emergency response coordination mechanisms.
The successful deployment of this system not only substantially improves the intrinsic safety level of the Daxie Bridge waters but also provides a replicable and scalable model—termed the "Ningbo Experience"—for coastal bridge ship collision management.
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