Maritime safety officials in Tongling have successfully lobbied the local government to invest in ferry services for residents living in Xuba and Laozhou, two counties on a river island with a population of nearly 60,000 people. Ferries are the only means of transport for the islanders. Tongling MSA persuaded the local government to invest in the ferry service as an important part of the city’s public transport system.

In 2010 the local government spent Rmb8m on building four 40-passenger ferries, three 120-passenger ferries and one six-car ferry. Facilities at the terminal such as lounges and public toilets have also been upgraded. This year the local government plans to spend another Rmb5m to build another three passenger ferries and upgrade additional facilities.

Back in September 2009, two men from Xuba town used their own unlicensed wooden motor boat to ferry 38 farmers to harvesting jobs in another town. The vessel capsized and at least 19 people were found dead, 17 of whom were women over 45 years old.