Effective March 1, 2025, the PRC’s Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) has implemented new requirements for foreign flagged vessels that need to enter territorial PRC waters in the event of emergencies. Such emergencies include, but are not limited to, urgent illness or injury, mechanical failure, vessel distress and adverse weather conditions whereby the vessel has not obtained a permit to enter port area.
Foreign flagged vessels operating in Chinese territorial waters that violate relevant laws, rules and regulations shall be subject to warnings, fines or even detentions. Criminal liability may also be pursued by PRC authorities in some instances. Vessels entering PRC waters for emergencies shall be subject to supervision and instructions of relevant maritime authorities.
The following measures are taken in the event of an emergency:
- Vessels should ensure that their onboard communication devices such as AIS and VHF equipment are functioning properly and verify the accuracy of the information displayed on their AIS before entering the designated reporting areas.
- The reporting shall be through marine radiotelephony, DSC, VHF, MF, HF, marine satellite telephone, wired telephone, fax, the PRC’s national hotline at 12395 for maritime search and rescue or by other effective means of communication.
- The vessel’s Master shall complete and submit an Emergency Report Form that can be found at the following link.
https://www.american-club.com/files/files/PRC_emergency_report_form.pdf