Guarding the Yangtze River's safety, benefiting the livelihood of riverside residents—Anqing Port Maritime Office weaves a dense safety net for the Anqing section of the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River in the Anqing section flows endlessly, serving as both a vital livelihood channel for local residents to cross the river and an important link supporting the steady development of the local water transport economy. The distribution of township self-use vessels in the jurisdiction is scattered, with many safety hazards hidden in daily operations, making detection and control challenging. Since the beginning of this year, the Anqing Port Maritime Office has collaborated with local townships, comprehensive transportation law enforcement, public security, emergency response, agriculture, and rural units to establish a multi-party coordinated water safety governance framework. Through joint rectification, source control, and risk prevention, they have continuously improved the waterway environment, safeguarded public safety with a stable water safety situation, and supported the orderly development of the local economy.

First, leveraging technological means, joint inspections have uncovered hidden water safety hazards. In the past, some township vessels engaged in illegal operations, crossed waterways arbitrarily, or carried passengers and goods privately. These issues were highly concealed and difficult to fully cover with inspections by a single department. The Anqing Port Maritime Office expanded its regulatory approach by combining drone aerial inspections, patrol boats on the river, remote video monitoring, and on-site inspections along the shore. They focused on key waterways, anchorages, and waterfront areas to promptly identify risks such as risky navigation and illegal welding operations.

Under the unified organization of the maritime department, relevant units jointly carried out comprehensive special rectifications. The rectifications balanced regulatory intensity with a human-centered approach. On one hand, they standardized vessel navigation and operational behaviors, promoting closed-loop rectification of various hazards. On the other hand, they educated boat operators on water safety knowledge, collaborated with local authorities to explain policies on vessel management and dismantling assistance, patiently listened to the actual demands of boat operators, and guided practitioners to voluntarily comply with safety regulations, reducing water-related violations at the source.

Second, advancing both immediate and long-term measures, township vessel governance has achieved tangible results. To prevent safety hazards from recurring after temporary rectifications, the Anqing Port Maritime Office balanced focused efforts with long-term construction. They proactively coordinated with local townships to improve institutional frameworks, assisted in issuing special rectification implementation plans for township vessels, and incorporated daily vessel management, standardized handling, joint law enforcement, and livelihood protection into standardized management. This addressed shortcomings in grassroots water safety management and transitioned township vessel governance from phased special actions to routine management.

With the concerted efforts of multiple departments, the governance results are visible and tangible. Currently, in Shilipu Township of Daguan District, 13 out of 16 township self-use vessels have signed dismantling agreements, eliminating a batch of long-standing water safety hazards at the source. This has significantly reduced the probability of accidents such as vessel collisions, fires, and people falling overboard, solidifying the safety foundation of the jurisdiction's waterways.

Third, focusing on nearby risks, safeguarding the safety line for residents' waterfront travel. Waterfront safety concerns every household along the river. The Anqing Port Maritime Office, in collaboration with streets, public security, and transportation units, regularly conducts riverside patrols, on-site advisories, and safety education. They promptly dissuade dangerous behaviors such as wild swimming and unauthorized water entry along the river, reducing drowning risks and protecting the lives of residents.

Ferries are an important means of transportation for residents along the river. During holidays and major events, the maritime department leads the formation of joint inspection teams to conduct comprehensive safety "check-ups" on ferries. They carefully inspect life-saving and firefighting equipment, crew qualifications, the implementation of safety reminders, designated parking areas for new energy vehicles, and the separation of vehicles and passengers. They urge operators to maintain a constant focus on safety, ensuring the safe and smooth crossing of residents.

Fourth, continuing collaborative efforts to empower local development with waterway safety. Safety is the foundation of livelihood and the prerequisite for development. Moving forward, the Anqing Port Maritime Office will continue to deepen the multi-departmental collaborative work mechanism, consolidate the results of this special rectification, and strictly prevent the resurgence of safety hazards. By relying on the joint governance efforts of departments, they will maintain a stable and orderly waterway environment, safeguard the travel safety of residents along the river, and build a solid water safety barrier for the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Golden Waterway. (Photo/Port Office Text/Han Weixing, Hou Tiantian)