An unspecified number of vessels stranded in the low waters of the Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze in Hunan province, caused a backlog of some 700 vessels near the Changsha section on 13 November. The local maritime safety officials and the waterway bureau dispatched emergency patrols and dredgers and, by 14 November, the vessels started to move downstream to Yueyang.

In a related development, waterway officials in Luzhou are tackling a ‘worst-ever’ dry season. They have identified two trouble spots for intensive dredging and five for constant monitoring. Last year, the water level between Luzhou and Chongqing was so low at one point that shipping was suspended for several days.