Recently, the Municipal Transportation Law Enforcement Detachment received an emergency phone call for help, reporting that a transport vessel had accidentally run aground between the Third Bridge and the First Bridge and could not free itself. Upon receiving the call for help, the Municipal Transportation Law Enforcement Detachment immediately activated the emergency response mechanism, dispatched a law enforcement boat and personnel to the scene for handling as a first priority, ensuring the navigation safety of the Xiang River through efficient action.
Sudden Emergency:
Thousand-Ton Cargo Ship Runs Aground in Non-Main Channel Waters
Not long ago, the 24-hour duty room of the Water Law Enforcement Unit of the Municipal Transportation Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Detachment received an alarm: “The vessel ‘Jiangyu 99999’, while traveling upstream, has run aground in non-main channel waters between the Third Bridge and the First Bridge. The ship is loaded with 1500 tons of iron ore and cannot refloat itself. Currently, the hull shows no signs of damage.”
Upon receiving the news, the Water Law Enforcement Unit immediately activated the emergency response plan for inland vessel grounding, quickly established an on-site command post, and dispatched a law enforcement vessel to the incident area. After on-site inspection, law enforcement personnel found that, affected by the recent sharp drop in the water level of the Xiang River, the vessel had run aground on a shoal at the edge of the channel, with the hull slightly tilted. Although it was not occupying the main channel, the incident area was close to the bridge zone with frequent vessel traffic, posing a safety hazard. Law enforcement personnel promptly established a 200-meter temporary safety警戒区, arranged for law enforcement vessels to stand by nearby to warn passing ships, and simultaneously retrieved real-time hydrological data through the intelligent supervision platform to provide precise data support for the subsequent rescue plan.
Resistance in the攻坚 Phase:
Pushboat Rescue Encounters Technical Bottleneck
The command post initially adopted the conventional pushboat refloating method, using a high-power pushboat to apply thrust to the stern, attempting to help the hull break free from the shoal with the pushing force. However, due to the dense loading of iron ore causing deep draft and the suction effect of the shoal’s silt on the hull, three consecutive pushing attempts failed to achieve the desired effect. The hull only showed slight movement and failed to break free from the shoal. The Water Law Enforcement Unit immediately adjusted the rescue plan, deciding to implement lightering (cargo transfer) and coordinating support from professional lightering resources from the private sector.
Government-Enterprise Coordination:
Lightering Precisely Resolves the Situation
Upon receiving the support order, Xiangtan Chuanlaoda Logistics Co., Ltd. quickly dispatched a lightering vessel along with relevant personnel and equipment to the scene. Rescue personnel overcame interference from gusts on the river surface, accurately completed key operations such as mooring and hose connection, and transferred the iron ore from the grounded vessel to the lightering vessel. Law enforcement vessels continuously patrolled and stood guard around the operation area, reminding passing vessels in real-time to pay attention and yield, creating a safe environment for the lightering operation. As the final batch of iron ore was transferred, the weight of the grounded hull was significantly reduced, and the stranded vessel slowly rose. Ultimately, after 13 hours of rescue efforts, the hull completely broke free from the shoal.
A relevant responsible person from the Municipal Transportation Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Detachment stated that this emergency response involved a total of 4 vessels and 20 personnel. Through scientific decision-making and efficient collaboration, the rescue personnel successfully resolved the vessel grounding emergency, successfully avoiding the occurrence of secondary accidents.
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