Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening Aquatic Search and Rescue work

 

Letter of the State Council [2019] No. 109

 

 

 

The people's governments of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and the relevant departments of the State Council:

 

 

 

As an important part of the national emergency response system and an important part of China's implementation of international conventions, maritime search and rescue plays an important role in ensuring the safety of people's lives and property, protecting the Marine ecological environment, serving the national development strategy and enhancing its international influence. Since the reform and opening up, especially in the eighteenth big, our country should make full use of its advantages in national maritime search and rescue system mechanism and steadily push forward the water rescue system, running management institutionalized, team equipment standardization, command and decision-making to be scientific, idea vision international, internal management window construction has achieved remarkable achievement, water rescue ability and level has made great progress. At the same time, however, there are still serious problems in water search and rescue work, such as inadequate implementation of responsibilities, imperfect regulations and standards, and inadequate support capabilities, which make it difficult to meet the needs of economic and social development and the expectations of the people in the new era. With the consent of the State Council, the relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:

 

 

 

First, improve the system of water search and rescue. National maritime search and rescue agencies should do a good job in the unified organization and coordination of national maritime search and rescue and emergency response to ship pollution, formulate and improve work plans, rules and regulations, and guide local governments in carrying out relevant work. Local people's governments at all levels should carry out their territorial responsibilities for preventing and responding to aquatic emergencies, establish and improve the system of organizing, coordinating, directing and supporting aquatic search and rescue, and incorporate the funds needed for aquatic search and rescue into the fiscal budget at the same level to ensure the efficient and orderly operation of aquatic search and rescue agencies.

 

 

 

2. Improve the joint meeting system. The inter-ministerial joint meeting on Maritime Search and rescue should coordinate the national emergency response to maritime search and rescue and ship pollution, and give full play to the advantages of joint meetings, liaison meetings, emergency consultations, joint exercises, and expert consultation. The Ministry of Transport should give full play to the leading role of the national inter-ministerial joint conference on Maritime Search and rescue, improve the comprehensive coordination mechanism, and strengthen supervision and guidance. Local people's governments at all levels should establish a system of joint meetings on water search and rescue in light of the actual conditions in their respective regions, so as to form a working pattern featuring "government leadership, unified command, reliance on local areas, combination of specialized groups, convenience in close proximity, and rapid and efficient work".

 

 

 

Third, pay attention to the coordination of search and rescue over inland rivers. Local people's governments at all levels should, in light of actual conditions, establish a dynamic adjustment mechanism for emergency duty that meets needs and is scientifically deployed, a joint cooperation mechanism for regional linkage and industry coordination, speed up the integrated construction of inland river cruise and rescue, strengthen the routine patrol of government vessels, and strengthen law enforcement and rescue functions. Local governments in areas not covered by water networks should build water rescue forces under their jurisdiction, strengthen the storage of emergency supplies, strengthen coordination and coordination, and constantly enhance the capacity of inland lakes and reservoirs for water rescue and rescue.

 

 

 

Fourth, strengthen the sharing of information resources. National maritime search and rescue joint inter-ministerial meeting, local search and rescue members of the joint water unit, should make full use of transport, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, natural resources, water conservancy, emergency management, meteorological departments such as resources, improving prediction prevention warning ability, to implement good water rescue response, disaster relief, support and aftermath disposal duties.

 

 

 

5. Improving the planning and contingency system for water search and rescue. We will implement the national plan for water traffic safety supervision and relief systems and the national plan for building the capacity for major offshore oil spill response. We will strengthen the publicity, implementation and implementation of the national emergency plan for maritime search and rescue and the National emergency response plan for major maritime oil spills, timely update supporting plans and operation manuals, and regularly organize emergency drills. We will work out a special plan for building maritime search and rescue capabilities based on actual work conditions, optimize the layout and equipment configuration of search and rescue bases, and promote the construction of bases for aquatic rescue, cruise rescue, aquatic medical rescue and aviation rescue.

 

 

 

Strengthen the construction of laws, regulations and standards system. National maritime search and rescue joint inter-ministerial meeting to promote and improve the relevant and regulations of the maritime search and rescue, clear responsibility, maritime search and rescue work to guide the water rescue agencies at all levels to establish and perfect water rescue duty unattended, platform construction, search and rescue command, equipment, equipped with standard and risk disposal work, the forming process, the standard system of the whole business chain, implement standardized, scientific water search and rescue work.

 

 

 

Attach importance to equipment research, development, equipment and technical application. We will strengthen the r&d and application of key technologies and equipment for far-reaching maritime rescue and salvage, and enhance the capabilities of far-reaching maritime and night navigation search and rescue. We will strengthen equipment for rescue and deep-water salvage in inland lakes, reservoirs and other waters, make equipment for deep-sea dives light and available for long-range delivery, and enhance emergency rescue and rescue capabilities in the Yangtze River and other inland rivers. We will promote the application of artificial intelligence, new-generation information technology, and satellite communications in search and rescue work over water, and ensure full coverage of the "12395" Marine distress calls. We will make a scientific layout and build a storage of ships' oil spill emergency supplies and equipment and maintain them regularly. We will strengthen daily exercises and drills, and improve the capacity of ships to deal with pollution and major offshore oil spills.

 

 

 

Eighth, the construction of modern water search and rescue personnel team. We will strengthen the building of specialized national rescue and salvage teams and maritime rescue and rescue forces belonging to units of the Inter-ministerial Joint Conference on Maritime Search and Rescue, open and share training conditions, and strengthen search and rescue training and education. We will give full play to the role of merchant ships, fishing boats, social volunteers and other social forces, and encourage and guide the orderly development of social search and rescue teams and volunteers. To provide technical support for relevant work, a team of cross-regional, cross-departmental and multi-professional maritime search and rescue experts will be established, and a relatively stable pool of emergency experts will be established.

 

 

 

Strengthen exchanges and cooperation in water search and rescue. National maritime search and rescue agencies should carry forward the international humanitarian spirit, earnestly fulfill international search and rescue obligations in accordance with relevant international conventions, strengthen case studies on major accidents at home and abroad, actively participate in international rescue operations, and build the image of a responsible major country. We will strengthen regional and international exchanges and cooperation, learn from advanced international concepts, technologies and experience, and enhance China's capacity to perform its duties in maritime search and rescue and its international influence.

 

 

 

X. Promote and popularize the aquatic search and rescue culture. We will firmly uphold the idea that life is Paramount and safety comes first, organize and carry out various and lively publicity and education activities, and raise the awareness of water safety in the whole society. Establish incentive mechanism, increase the publicity of advanced figures and touching stories, improve the social identity, professional pride and work enthusiasm of employees, and create a good atmosphere for water search and rescue work.

 

 

 

General Office of the State Council

 

October 31, 2019

 

 

 

(This article is publicly released)