The Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has issued a new circular requiring foreign flag vessels to make mandatory reporting prior entering the territorial waters of China.
Ships are also required to make follow-up reports after they enter the territorial waters, every two hours if the ship does not have an operational Automatic Identification System (AIS).
According to Oasis P&I, the new requirements – set out in a circular that China’s Maritime Safety Administration issued on Friday (27 August) – will apply to:
- submersibles;
- nuclear powered vessels;
- ships carrying radioactive materials;
- ships carrying bulk oil, chemicals, liquefied gas and other toxic and harmful substances;
- and ‘other vessels that may endanger the maritime traffic safety of the P.R.China’.
Under the new rules, when the applicable vessels enter China’s territorial waters they will be required to report the ship′s name, call sign, satellite telephone number, IMO Number and current position.
They must state their last port of call and departure time and the next port of call and estimated time of arrival. In addition, they must specify if any dangerous goods or noxious cargoes are onboard.
As Oasis noted: ‘Where a vessel of foreign nationality enters or exits the internal waters or territorial sea of China in violation of the provisions of this Law, the maritime safety administration shall impose a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan nor more than 500,000 yuan upon the owner, operator or manager of the vessel in violation of the law, and impose a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan nor more than 30,000 yuan upon the master.’
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