Recently, several traffic accidents happened in the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River. Changyue, a passenger liner, was stranded at Laohuliang, Fuling District, on July 12, following an accidental ship-sinking on June 19. In the evening of July 14, another passenger carrier, Changxin, ran onto rocks and sank in Fengdu of Chongqing, while sailing from Hankou to Chongqing.  Fortunately, all its 423 passengers were saved in good time, and there was no casualty. 

Since the Three Gorges Dam was put into operation, the water level of the Yangtze in this section has become higher and the water surface, much broader, while the flow has become much slower. The disappearance of many riptides and dangerous shoals provides better sailing conditions, making it possible for watercrafts and ships of large tonnage freighting on the upper stream of the Yangtze River.

Why, under such more favorable conditions, ship accidents happened again and again? Peng Ziping, an engineer working for the Yangtze River Navigation Administration in Chongqing, gives his explanations. 

First of all, according to Peng, the broadened waterway produces more vapors, which, gathering and drifting above the water surface, lower the visibility and block sailors' sight. It is difficult to forecast a foggy weather, and due to the river's many turns in the Three Gorges section, it takes longer time for the mists to disperse. The accident on June 19 happened at the time when there was a heavy fog.

Peng also mentioned that accidents happened also because the former reference objects had disappeared and the sailing route had changed after the water level rose up. In addition, there will be new submerged reefs and other objects to block sailing boats as the water level rises higher and higher.

Another reason is that some pilots were not careful enough while sailing on the broad waterway.

At present, the Chongqing Yangtze River Navigation Administration is conducting a thorough survey of the channel so as to draw a new shipping chart as soon as possible. They also reinstalled signal lights in dangerous waters to insure safe navigation in the Three Gorges.

(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong, August 8, 2003)