The Deputy Minister of Transport Xu Zuyuan announced on 25 June that the central government would take measures to push through a vessel standardisation programme across the Yangtze trunkline by the end of 2013. The measures include subsidies, shared equally by the central and local governments, which are provided to ship-owners that withdraw their vessels on a compulsory basis under the programme. Ship-owners could also apply for funding for renovation.

The programme first began on the Three Gorges Reservoir in June 2003, where the standardisation of vessels was crucial in utilising the shipping capacity in the shiplocks. Between 1 October 2009 and 31 December 2013, the programme will be rolled out across the entire length of the Yangtze. Vessels below 600 dwt will be banned from operating. Single hull oil tankers and chemical carries will have to be converted to double hull. Passenger cruisers whose waste emissions do not reach regulatory standards will also be banned.

According to Mr Xu, mechanisms are being set up across various bodies including the maritime safety authorities, vessel inspection agencies and shiplocks management to make sure that non-standard vessels will not be issued with shipping permits.

The programme is expected to raise the average dead weight tonnage of vessels from the current 800 tons to 1,000 tons and increase the standardisation rate in the Three Gorges Reservoir to 75 per cent, thereby adding 10 per cent to its shipping capacity.

Separately, a total of 1,193 new vessels were inspected in Jiangsu province during the first five months of 2009, amounting to a total dead weight tonnage of 545,000 tons, up 38 per cent and 135 per cent respectively year-on-year.