Discussion on the causes of the Jianli shipwreck
Thread Content
The Jianli shipwreck incident is nearing its conclusion now, and as we mourn those who lost their lives, it is time to conduct a necessary review. I also ask everyone that, when holding someone accountable or determining responsibility, to start with their own faults, use thoughts as a guide, and conclude with correction. I am merely offering some preliminary thoughts, based solely on the perspective of safety work, to share a few personal ideas. ①There are various opinions regarding the cause of the accident; personally, I believe the main reason for it was that the ship was sailing on a stormy night. Previously, in the safety assessment group, people discussed whether certain events were natural disasters or human-made disasters. Events such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and tornadoes are considered natural disasters, whereas those cases where people refuse to take shelter despite being aware of the danger are regarded as human-made disasters. A previous news report stated that the maritime authorities issued a warning to ships in the area at around 9:10; the Dongfang Star continued to sail at normal speed (see NetEase News article \"Lightning Illuminates the River Surface Before the Dongfang Star Disaster\" and other news reports from reference websites). I just want to ask: why not anchor and stop near the shore as soon as the message was received? As for the various opinions online regarding the ship not being properly designed and issues related to tour groups, I think very few inland waterway vessels are designed for such weather conditions; moreover, this ship has been in operation for over a decade. To continue sailing in such weather, with the crew having no time even to escape through their room doors before ending up upside down in the river – was it a natural disaster or human error? ②Regarding rescue. I have no experience in maritime shipping, but when I read some reports about the \"golden 72 hours\" and found them somewhat plausible, I was also a bit confused – what kind of people are able to hold on for 72 hours? Personally, I believe that those who are able to hold out for 72 hours in such circumstances generally meet three conditions: good physical health, a strong will, and an awareness of the dangers (or the ability to save themselves); the first two of these are things that cannot be controlled ； Regarding the latter point, I remember that every time I flew, there was a very nice flight attendant who would talk to us for a few minutes. ③Let’s talk about emergencies again. Now, accident emergency plans are prepared. So first of all, are the emergency response plans of operating companies and travel agencies merely a formality to meet regulatory requirements? Could the contingency plans prepared by the maritime authorities be brought out and checked item by item in relation to this shipwreck, so as to eliminate the redundant elements and discard the generic wording; more emphasis should be placed on specifying exactly what each individual in each department can actually do. Regarding the sinking of that ship, according to NetEase News, the incident was only reported 3 hours after it occurred (please pay attention to this detail in the news; it’s hard to imagine that information about an accident would not be available until 3 hours later, especially since this was in an inland waterway). I’d like to ask those who work in the maritime industry: is it not necessary to install positioning systems for inland waterway shipping? Or does the positioning system fail on stormy nights? Why was it only known 3 hours later? Let’s not blame the captain for calling the police only after 3 hours; it’s a miracle that he survived at all. I think he didn’t have any communication device on the sea to call for help either. ④Rescue. The prime minister of a major country flew to the disaster area at 7 o’clock the next day; what time did the emergency rescue teams arrive? Does the activation of a full-time emergency response team follow orders without hesitation, remaining as steady as a mountain? Can dedicated emergency response teams meet the demands of emergencies? If equipment such as emergency rescue boats does not have the capability to operate in harsh conditions, and if emergency responders do not have sufficient safety gear for rescue and self-protection, then such equipment can probably only be used to collect the dead – this is not the kind of emergency supplies that we ordinary people would expect.
The Dongchuan Shipyard only manufactures the ship’s hull framework, while the shipping company itself produces the other components; yet this shipping company does not possess the necessary qualifications for doing so. Such incidents are typical cases that require thorough investigation of responsibilities to ensure that those involved bear accountability – that is the best approach. The economic situation is very poor at the moment, and such situations will continue to occur; in bidding, it’s the one with the lowest price that wins
There are many doubts surrounding the shipwreck in Jianli: if a tornado of level 12 had hit, the ship would have been overturned instantly, so how is it that those who managed to escape were not swept away? A ship that big can capsize just like that – is there nothing wrong with its structure? The driver’s emergency response?
Don’t be misled by the **media**. . . .
According to foreign media reports, the family members are kept under strict surveillance and prevented from meeting with the media. Apart from CCTV reporters, local station reporters are not allowed to get close. We really don’t know what the specific situation is.
Regarding the issues in ship design, my view is that it is one factor, but not the fundamental cause. There are mainly two points supporting my view: ① Why did only this ship capsize in this section of the river? It is claimed that all other ships in this area were designed in accordance with **regulations; I wasn’t on site, so I can’t be absolutely certain, but given China’s circumstances, this is concerning. Inland waterway shipping is different from ocean-going ships, and I cannot agree with the claim that all inland waterway vessels are designed to operate properly under harsh conditions. (For example: the design of passenger vehicles and off-road vehicles are two different concepts.) ②If a ship does not meet the requirements for navigation, the relevant authorities should have revoked its right to operate long ago. But as far as is known, none. (If there is bribery, the responsible parties should be given a severe punishment)
Why are there no lifeboats, and why aren’t people wearing life jackets?
The sinking of the river ferry is a heartbreaking event. In my opinion, the main cause was a natural disaster. I grew up by the sea, and in the 1970s I often heard the elders talk about whirlwinds and other phenomena that occurred at sea, which led to the sinking of fishing boats and deaths. Due to our limited understanding back then, whenever a tornado was spotted at sea, rituals would be carried out to seek safety. It is necessary to thoroughly investigate the causes of this accident, learn from the lessons learned, and improve emergency response capabilities in order to minimize such disaster-related losses. May the deceased rest in peace.
The accident is heartbreaking; since it was reported that there was a storm that night, why didn’t the ship go ashore? The quality of the ship is one factor, but human factors cannot be ignored either； Ignoring safety for economic gains means not putting human life first; how can such companies be allowed to exist? When thinking of other modes of transportation, aren’t there any safety risks? Safety in production must not be neglected for even a moment; all sectors across the country should conduct inspections and self-checks to eliminate potential hazards at their earliest stages.
Yes, human safety should come first; flights should be suspended when necessary, rather than rushing to operate them just to make money
To this day, no explanation has been given; it involves the interests of several parties. Once those interests are given less importance, the safety of the people will improve