Global tanker association Intertanko has written to China’s Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) voicing the concern of many of its members about the number of uncharted terminals in Chinese ports, principally among the host of new LNG terminals that have been developed in recent years.
Hydrographic inaccuracies and the non-marking of existing terminals on charts pose serious navigational risks and prevent ships’ masters from carrying out proper passage planning and risk assessment, Intertanko warned.
Ports Intertanko is concerned about include Zhoushan, Qidong, Guangxi Beihai, Caojing, Nanjing, Rizhao, Dongjiakou and Weifang.
The tanker body also raised its concern with the MSA over China’s policy on the non-marking of sensitive structures such as gas terminals on China hydrographic charts.
