East China’s Jiangsu province has given full play to ecological conservation in recent years by reining in ship pollution along the Yangtze River so as to rev up economic transformation and upgrading and high-quality development of the regional economy.
Water transport make up half of Jiangsu's comprehensive transportation, and ship pollution management has thereby become an important part of the Yangtze River's ecological protection.
Maritime and transportation agencies in Jiangsu have made active exploration by taking the lead in the country in launching ship pollutant control, creating a prevention and control community with the participation of the entire industry, and providing lessons for the country’s ship pollution prevention and control.
In recent years, Jiangsu Maritime Administration has offered services of handling domestic sewage and domestic garbage from inland vessels in the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River in a bid to ensure zero discharge of pollutants.
The crew of passing ships has consciously strengthened environmental protection. Maritime affairs and transportation departments improve pollution collection facilities such as ports, docks, and smart trash cans in water service areas.
Oily sewage is also an important source of pollutants from ships. At present, Jiangsu is accelerating the construction of an integrated comprehensive treatment system covering oily sewage, tank washing water, and ship exhaust.
In June, Jiangsu built the province’s first water tank washing station in Nantong, requiring ships that transport dangerous chemicals to wash tanks before entering the port to for safety concerns.
As of now, two water tank washing stations in Nantong have been put into use in the waters of the Yangtze River, and the construction of 3 water tank washing stations in Nanjing and Jiangyin is also speeding up as planned to ensure that they are put into use before the end of the year.
Approximately 8,450 freight ships of more than 400 gross tonnage in the province have been equipped with anti-pollution facilities and equipment as required, and all docks along the river and inland waterways in the province have set up dock ship pollutant receiving facilities.
From January to August this year, the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River received a total of 154 thousand ships’ domestic sewage and 275 thousand ships’ garbage, a year-on-year increase of 26.5 times and 8.8 times respectively.
