At 15:13 on May 10, the Tongling Waterway Department of the Yangtze River Wuhu Waterway Administration received an alarm: a berthed cargo ship named “Tongzhou 808” in the Chengdezhou Donggang Tingzhou anchorage suddenly caught fire, with thick smoke billowing on site, and the situation was extremely critical.
Danger is a command. Upon receiving the report, the Yangtze River Tongling Waterway Department immediately activated the emergency plan, and the vessel “Hangdao 11113” responded quickly, completing preparation and departure in just 6 minutes. During the 25-minute voyage to the accident site, the crew did not wait blindly but seized the opportunity to carry out targeted preparations: on one hand, they quickly connected the fire pump and hose to ensure they could engage in combat upon arrival; on the other hand, they actively contacted relevant departments to learn in advance the nature of the cargo carried by the burning ship, scientifically assessing whether water could be used to extinguish the fire, thus gaining valuable time for precise rescue.
At 15:38, the vessel “Hangdao 11113” arrived at the accident site urgently. On-site investigation revealed that the fire on the cargo ship was caused by an explosion of charging batteries on board. Fortunately, no one was on the ship at the time. Rescue operations were then launched.
Based on the fire situation on site, the waterway staff adopted a layered firefighting tactic: the rescue force was divided into two groups to extinguish the fire on the first and second decks of the cargo ship respectively. After the fire was initially brought under control, the waterway staff, ensuring their own safety, boarded the “Tongzhou 808” to precisely extinguish the open flames at close range.
During the rescue process, the waterway staff closely coordinated with the Changhang Public Security, Maritime Affairs, Fire Department, and other departments that arrived later. Each department had clear division of labor and tacit cooperation, forming a good situation of joint force handling. Through precise measures and coordinated operations, the danger was resolved.
After more than an hour of continuous efforts, at 16:40 that day, the open flames on the ship were successfully extinguished, the danger was smoothly resolved, ensuring the navigation safety of the Yangtze River waters and the safety of ship property.
This rescue was not only a rapid response to a sudden danger but also a practical test of the results of daily fire training in the waterway department. Although the participating waterway staff were drenched in sweat, they felt deeply gratified to see the shipowner’s losses minimized.
The Yangtze River Wuhu Waterway Administration has fulfilled its original intention of “serving the people through waterways” with practical actions, powerfully interpreting the dedication and responsibility of the waterway department in the face of urgent, difficult, dangerous, and heavy tasks, and building a solid safety defense line for the high-quality development of Yangtze River shipping.
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