Hainan implements new measures to regulate maritime activities

Hainan is taking steps to regulate maritime activities and improve the efficiency of maritime operations on the island province with the Hainan Free Trade Port Ship Navigation Management Measures, which came into effect on Monday.

Comprising seven chapters and 33 articles, the measures aim to standardize and optimize various aspects of maritime activities, including traffic conditions, navigation support, and berthing management. The changes are intended to harmonize the demands for unhindered ship transportation and customs control, thereby simplifying the entry and exit processes for ships within the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The measures emphasize the importance of functional departments working together, sharing information, coordinating law enforcement and implementing prevention and control measures.

The measures are expected to enhance the efficiency of ship navigation by clarifying navigation requirements for vessels operating in Hainan coastal waters and simplifying entry and exit reports for vessels sailing on fixed routes, such as passenger and roller transportation in the Qiongzhou Strait.

The measures also noted that refitting or disguising ships in violation of regulations, tampering with shipborne automatic identification systems and BeiDou terminal systems without authorization, and engaging in activities that endanger public safety are prohibited. Additionally, ship owners, agents, or captains anchoring for extended periods are required to fulfill management responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of the vessels. This includes reporting operations at sea and operating within specified routes and waters for projects such as drilling platforms, offshore wind farms and marine pastures.

Wu Pingsheng, the deputy director of the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration, highlighted that the measures are specifically designed to cater to the operational requirements of the island-wide independent customs clearance. “By emphasizing comprehensive ship navigation management, the measures aim at establishing a robust ‘firewall’ to effectively prevent and control maritime trade risks. Furthermore, the measures seek to enhance maritime traffic safety and coordinate efforts to prevent ship smuggling,” he said at a press conference held on Monday.

Ye Zhanbo, from the Office of the Free Trade Port Working Committee of the Communist Party of China Hainan Provincial Committee, said the issuance of the measures, which aim to supervise, prevent, and resolve trade risks, further reinforces the institutional framework for customs clearance operations. It represents a practical step forward in the full implementation of the overall plan for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.