The heavy fog and storms that started to envelop the entire Yangtze River region from Shanghai to Chongqing on 10 November has impacted the safety and security of shipping, according to the Yangtze Maritime Safety Authority under the Ministry of Transport. An emergency code for accident-prevention at times of atrocious weather has been activated.

In Yichang alone, the local maritime authorities deployed 18 extra patrol boats involving 200 officials at the 12 rescue centres. Notices have been sent out stating that all vessels passing the middle reaches where there is currently a severe drought must have a draught of 2.8 metres or less, except those carrying dangerous goods whose draught must be 2.7 metres or less. Vessels that do not comply will be ordered to lighten at the Yichang Lightening Base. Eight service vessels at the base are on stand-by with a daily handling capacity of more than 20,000 tons.

In a separate move, the Yangtze police in Jiujiang are cracking down hard on organised crime involving stranded vessels. On 16 November, the Jiujiang Yangtze police arrested a main suspect, whose surname was given a Xie, who admitted that he and three accomplices (still at large) extorted money from stranded vessels on a false premise of helping them to lighten. The case continues.