Chinese fishing vessels escape storms thanks to the 'number sign

Artwork ( Stanice )

China's digital lighthouse system has just passed the first major test - Typhoon Chanchu - and has guided the country's ships to avoid safe storms.

The first tropical storm this year in the South China Sea submerged at least 10 Vietnamese ships and killed at least 18 people.

Casualties that do not occur with Chinese vessels are mainly due to the automatic identification system (AIS) established by the Maritime Safety Agency, said Liu Gongchen, director of the agency. This system is intended to guide ships, and is considered "digital lighthouses" for seafarers.

By using digital technology in communications, AIS records and reports information about ships, their speed and direction; receive maritime notifications from checkpoints on the shore and from other vessels within the AIS system.

During the three days that Chanchu stormed on Chinese territorial waters, the local maritime safety agencies in Shanghai and eastern Shanghai sent a notice about the wind and direction of the storm through the system. AIS. This information was transmitted to Chinese and foreign ships in the area at risk of storms, giving instructions to shelters.

Mr. Mo Qi, deputy director of Guangdong Maritime Safety Agency, said all ships with AIS on the path of Chanchu storm are safe.

China has set up these "numbered lighthouses" since 2003 and by the end of 2004 connected maritime association ships with 50 onshore control stations, ensuring "coverage" for all ports and Important sea routes.

T. Huyen