A cold wave that was rare in recent years swept across the sea area in North China. In order to counter the adverse influence of the sea ice and ensure the effectiveness of aids to navigation in frozen ports during this winter, Tianjin MSA developed a plan to better deploy the aids to navigation in this area.
Firstly, ice buoys were installed according to the ice condition. In the worst frozen area, the strong ice-resistant buoys were deployed individually in critical points at large intervals along only one side of the channel to minimize the damage brought by sea ice, which constituted an integrated navigational system together with the land-based navigational facilities. In the relatively better area, all the buoys were replaced by buoys specially designed for ice period to meet the requirements of the port.
Meanwhile, the application of radio aids was further enhanced. Through the application of radio aids, including Racons, AIS responders and AIS virtual aids, a continuous radio AtoN chain was formed. The combination of radio and visual aids to navigation system met the navigational requirements of ships in different regions during the ice period.
Currently, 214 buoys have been replaced and 110 buoys in frozen ports were removed in the sea area under the responsibility of Tianjin MSA. In addition, a contingency plan was also launched five times, involving the installation and restoration of 11 aids by now, which effectively ensured the safety and effectiveness of aids to navigation in approaching channels in Tianjin, Qinhuangdao and Dalian ports.