The Three Gorges Administration, in charge of navigational affairs between the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam, has decided to adopt the normal traffic lane system at the end of this year’s flood season. The decision, which took effect at 6:00pm on 30 September, means that all vessels sailing between the dams must now sail on the right-hand side. This is the third time since January 2009 that the traffic lane system has been adopted at this time of year.

At the moment, water is entering and leaving the Three Gorges Dam at a rate of 10,000 cubic metres per second, slightly higher than in previous seasons. However, the water depth of 65 metres is similar to previous seasons, officials say.

In line with international practice, the traffic lane system was adopted in 2009 throughout the 2,838km Yangtze trunk line, except for the section between the dams where, during the flood season, vessels sailing upstream take the slow current or either side of the shipping channel, while vessels sailing downstream follow the main flow or the middle of the shipping channel.

Official statistics show that the adoption of the traffic lane system, rolled out over a period of six years, has contributed to a significant reduction in the number of collisions on the Yangtze.