On 12 February, an oil tanker carrying 990 tons of No.90 diesel oil set off from Wuhan to Yichang. A sudden onset of heavy fog caused the vessel to be stranded at the approach of the shipping channel near the Zhijiang section of the Yangtze. The Yangtze River Administration, the Yangtze Maritime Safety Authorities and its Yichang MSA met in emergency with the Three Gorges Dam Development Corp, the state-owned company that operates the dam.

In response, the Three Gorges Dam Development Corp agreed to increase the intensity of its release cycle. During the morning of the following day, the water level in Yichang was raised more than one metre and by late afternoon the stranded oil tanker was able to sail off without any casualties or spillage.

In a separate development, the Three Gorges Dam has started its water releasing cycle to get ready for the flood season. On 14 February, the water level had been reduced from 175 metres to 168.65 metres. According to plan, the water level in the reservoir will fall by 23 metres over the coming four months.