On the first day of the National Day holiday, Zhejiang Shipu Port was a little more lively than usual. In the early morning, mist enveloped the harbor, fishing boats began to leave the pier, and tourists began to enter this thousand-year-old fishing port. Tao Jinxin, a law enforcement officer at Xiangshan No. 1 Workstation of Ningbo Coast Guard Station in Zhejiang Province, boarded the dock and began a day of inspection.
This year is his 11th year taking root in this fishing port. When he first came, he was not familiar with this sea. When fishing began for the first time with boat escort, hundreds of fishing boats sailed from the harbor to the sea, with bows connected and masts standing tall. At that time, the instructor told him that behind the fishing boats going out to sea was the livelihood of each fishing family.
"At that time, I felt that this sentence was a bit far away from me." Tao Jinxin recalled. Later, he went on cruises again and again, and gradually became familiar with the waterways, islands and reefs, and the routes often taken by fishing boats. He also gradually understood that maritime law enforcement is not just patrols one after another.
For fishermen in Shipu Port, safety is often hidden in these seemingly trivial details. Before fishing begins, law enforcement officers will go to the pier to inspect each ship and check fire protection, life-saving and other facilities; before the typhoon approaches, they rush to the port area to help fishermen strengthen cables and gather fishing nets; when they encounter operating fishing boats while cruising, they remind them of navigation safety through ship-borne radios.
"If you run a lot, you will know which channel is prone to which situation." Tao Jinxin said that he has also witnessed the changes in Shipu Port over the years.
Shipu Port is a famous fishing port in the East China Sea, with four islands and five gates surrounding it. The comings and goings of fishing boats, seafood trading, and tourists keep this thousand-year-old fishing port always busy. Especially during holidays, tourists increase, ships are densely packed, and maritime traffic organization becomes more complex.
Returning to the duty room of the workstation, law enforcement officer Gong Yufan faced another "sea" - the ports and waterways in the real-time monitoring screen.
The situation in the port's waterways, key terminals and other areas is constantly updated, and the entry and exit trajectories of ships are also clearly displayed on the screen. "In the past, manual inspections were relied on, which had limited efficiency and blind spots and dead ends were easily missed." Gong Yufan lamented, "Now that it is connected to the joint defense platform and equipped with a smart coastal defense monitoring system, the tracks of ships entering and leaving ports and changes in key areas can be given real-time warnings and accurate traceability."
In recent years, the workstation has divided the 3,932 square kilometers of sea area, 186 islands and 6 township docks under its jurisdiction into 8 control grids, and law enforcement forces carry out inspections and duties according to the grids. The combination of manpower inspections and technological means has also given this large sea area with many islands a clearer management context.
Law enforcement officers inspect boats. Photo courtesy of Zhejiang Coast Guard
For fishing ports, safety is not just about guarding ships and managing waterways. Friction is inevitable in fishing boat operations, port operations, and fishermen's production. To this end, the workstation took the initiative to connect with the fishing village committees and set up a coastal-sea mediation center with fishermen representatives to intervene in disputes. It not only respects laws and regulations, but also pays attention to local customs. It polishes the golden sign of "Maple Bridge on the Sea" that "do not go ashore for small matters, do not leave the port for major matters, and do not hand over conflicts". It not only maintains the bottom line of safety, but also protects the harmonious fireworks of the fishing port.
As night falls, the lights of Shipu Harbor begin to light up, and the joyful laughter of reunion floats out from the lights of thousands of houses. Yu Hailian, the wife of law enforcement officer Zhu Xianlong, was having dinner with everyone. This was her fourth time coming to the team to celebrate the holiday, and this time she specially brought her hometown stew.
"The more vacation I have, the more I know that this fishing port cannot live without him. I have long been used to this kind of reunion." She joked. She always loves to listen to Zhu Xianlong's stories about dock duty and maritime patrol. She also wants him to eat hot hometown food with his first bite after returning from patrol and feel the warmth of home at his job.
As the meal was put on the table, the sea breeze blew in from the windows and the lights of the harbor reflected on the water. For Shipu Port, such a night is nothing special. The fishing boats returned to the port, the tourists dispersed, and the pier gradually became quiet. Some people have finished fishing for the day, some are preparing to go to sea the next day, and some are still staying at their posts, paying attention to the changes in the port area and the sea surface.
The tide rises in the East China Sea, and the harbor accommodates thousands of sails. From dawn to night, from the harbor to the sea, the law enforcement officers of Xiangshan No. 1 Work Station have integrated their deep devotion to the sea and their deep feelings of protecting fishermen and people into every sailing, every greeting, and every night on duty. (over)
