Due to the impact of "flood-drying season", the current Yangtze River trunk channel has entered the dry season ahead of schedule. It is reported that due to the "flood-frigeration" and continuous drought in the Yangtze River this summer, the current flow of the Yangtze River main line only accounts for 40% of the same period, and the average water level in various places is 5.7m lower. According to data, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will continue to have drought and rainy weather in the future. As the upstream reservoir groups gradually accumulate water, extreme water conditions are likely to occur during this dry season.
Take the middle reaches of Hankou as an example. As of September 27, the water level of the hydrological station has fallen to 12.72 meters, not only lower than the same period in previous years, but also lower than the lowest water level in previous years, setting a record low.
China Coal Resources Network data showed that on September 27, the water level of Hankou Hydrological Station fell by 11.16 meters compared with the same period in 2021, a decrease of 46.73%; it fell by 12.36 meters compared with the same period in 2020, a decrease of 49.28%.
At present, the drought in the Yangtze River Basin is still developing continuously, and the possibility of ease in the short term is relatively low. It is expected that the water level of various hydrological stations in the Yangtze River may further decline.
This situation seriously affects Yangtze River shipping. The phenomenon of "anti-drying during flood season" is that the Yangtze River waterway has been greatly narrowed. In order to safely pass through the waterway, cargo ships can only reduce their load capacity.
According to Anhui TV, the Anhui section of the Yangtze River entered the dry period three months ahead of schedule this year. On August 19, the water level of the same forest in the Yangtze River was 3.2 meters, a decrease of 4.8 meters from the same period last year. Ships need to navigate in the waterway, just like cars need to drive in designated lanes, where about 1,300 ships pass through every day. After the channel is greatly narrowed, it is difficult for ships to ensure a large safe distance when they intersect and chase, and it is prone to collision accidents. Moreover, the water level drops, which also significantly reduces the load capacity of cargo ships.
It is understood that due to the drop in the water level of the Yangtze River, Jiujiang Maritime Affairs launched navigable water traffic control on August 10.
For coal transport ships, if they want to sail safely on the Yangtze River channel, they are likely to need to exchange large ships for small ships, so the increase in freight rates becomes inevitable.
China Coal Resources Network data shows that the current freight rates in Jiangnei are basically rising compared with those in early June. Among them, Zhenjiang /Nanjing- Jiujiang freight rate on September 23 was 21 yuan/ton, up 5.71 yuan/ton from the beginning of June, an increase of 37.34%.
In order to avoid accidents, on September 21, Yangtze River Waterway Bureau held the 2022-2023 waterway maintenance work meeting in Wuhan. At the meeting, the waterway maintenance work of this waterway and the future period was planned and deployed.
In response to the severe situation this year, the Yangtze River Waterway Bureau has studied and determined 15 Class I key waterways and 19 Class II key waterways (river sections) in the entire line during the dry season, totaling 34. Among them, there is one key waterway in Class I and four key waterways in Class II in the upper reaches of the river; five key waterways in Class I and six key waterways in Class II in the middle reaches of the river; nine key waterways in Class I and nine key waterways in Class II in the lower reaches of the river. In order to ensure the smooth flow of the waterway, the bureau will arrange more than 130 daily maintenance ships and 16 surveying and mapping teams to invest in the waterway maintenance, and arrange 35 dredgers (teams) to invest in the waterway maintenance and dredging of the waterway during the dry period.
In addition, due to the extreme abnormal water level this year, the Yangtze River Waterway Bureau will strengthen the detection of waterways, including dredging waterways, measuring twice a day, dynamically adjusting the dredging plan according to the changes in the waterway, increasing dredging forces if necessary, and making every effort to ensure the maintenance scale of the trunk channel. At the same time, the navigation mark will be adjusted in a timely manner according to changes in water levels and waterways to ensure that the waterway standards are accurate, the water depth is sufficient, and the signal command and disclosure will be promptly and accurately.
If the continued decline trend of the Yangtze River waterway remains unchanged in the later period, the draft of ships will be further reduced for transportation safety reasons, and the reprint volume will also be reduced. The time for ships to wait for navigation may be longer, and freight rates within the river will continue to rise. (Text/Zhang Yan Source: Coal Resources Network)
