China's maritime safety authority has ordered ferry operators and ship certification departments to gear up safety management.

The Maritime Safety Administration issued an emergency notice on Tuesday, calling on all ferries with a passenger capacity of more than 50 to carry out a drill that simulates abandoning ship.

A lecture on safety issues and an inspection of major equipment also are called for by the administration.

It asked maritime authorities and ferry operators to learn a lesson from the South Korea ferry disaster, which has claimed well over 100 lives.

The Ministry of Transport has designated the Yangtze River and six waterways, including the Pearl River estuary and Taiwan Straits, for special attention.

Unlicensed ferries and those with mechanical problems are banned from operating. Overloading and speeding are strictly prohibited.

The ministry also ordered ferries to stay in harbor when weather and sea conditions are not suitable for sailing.

It pledged to strengthen cooperation with tourism, meteorological and water resources departments to better coordinate publication of bad weather notices, requests by local branches for situation reports and activation of emergency response plans in case of accidents.

(China Daily 04/23/2014 page12)