On April 20, reporters learned from the Rizhao Maritime Safety Administration that the "Rizhao Maritime Traffic Safety Regulations" (referred to as the "Regulations") will come into effect on May 1. The "Regulations" consist of six chapters and forty-nine articles. The content includes general provisions, general rules for maritime traffic, traffic safety for maritime recreational activities, maritime search and rescue emergencies, legal responsibilities, and supplementary provisions.

　　To address the long-standing issue of conflicts in marine space planning, Article 8 of the "Regulations" explicitly states: "When relevant departments are preparing aquaculture water and tidal flat plans or reviewing sea area usage applications for projects such as marine ranching, they must fully consider the needs of maritime traffic safety and seek the opinions of natural resources and planning departments, transportation departments, and maritime management agencies." This means that the "Regulations" aim to resolve marine use conflicts at the source, and the delineation of future aquaculture zones, waterways, and anchorages must be planned in a coordinated manner from the outset.

　　To address the "racing for the bow" phenomenon, which is most likely to occur when commercial and fishing vessels converge, Article 16 of the "Regulations" provides two clear levels of stipulations: First, any vessel crossing or entering a waterway must actively yield to vessels traveling along the waterway and is prohibited from racing ahead of another vessel's bow. Second, vessels engaged in fishing operations must not obstruct the passage of vessels navigating within the waterway. This provision further refines and implements the relevant stipulations of the "1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea" and the "Maritime Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," clarifying the priority rights of vessels using waterways, ensuring both parties understand their rights and obligations, and effectively reducing collision accidents caused by unclear avoidance responsibilities.

　　Article 18 of the "Regulations" imposes mandatory requirements on the provision of communication equipment: Vessels must be equipped with communication equipment and automatic identification systems as required and ensure their normal use. Crew members responsible for radio communication tasks must maintain vigilance and ensure the smooth operation of maritime traffic safety communication channels.

　　Zhang Zhe, Deputy Director of the Rizhao Maritime Safety Administration, stated that the "Regulations" do not simply "prohibit" or "block" to resolve conflicts between commercial and fishing vessels but instead establish a comprehensive governance system of "spatial separation + behavior norms + technological empowerment + mechanism coordination." With the implementation of various provisions, maritime navigation order will be further standardized, the risk of collisions between commercial and fishing vessels will be reduced, and maritime traffic safety and the life and property safety of maritime workers will be effectively safeguarded, providing strong support for Rizhao in creating a safer and more orderly maritime traffic environment.

　　All-media reporter Ma Rongwei, correspondent Feng Xiaoyan