TOURIST vessels sailing between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Shenzhen waters could lose their operational licenses or face a 50,000 yuan (US$6,168) fine, according to a new maritime safety regulation that comes into effect from Sept. 1.

The marine transportation safety regulation, drafted by the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, sets up rules on the management of tourist vessels to better manage an increasing number of tour vessels operating in the waters off Shenzhen.

Tour vessels should avoid channels, anchorages and areas with cargo ships. They are forbidden from sailing when the visibility is below 3,000 meters, or when the wind is stronger than six knots.

Operators who breached the rules would face a fine between 1,000 (US$123) and 50,000 yuan and could have their license suspended for three months or even canceled.

The regulation also sets specific rules on marine rescue, sunken ships or goods salvage and procedures on sailing, anchoring and operation.

The regulation forbids vessels heavier than 1,600 tons from passing other vessels or sailing side by side in the North Channel, Shekou Channel, Chiwan Channel or the no-go zone in the western port area.

"The regulation will also affect foreign vessels, which makes up a quarter of the boats that visit Shenzhen," said Wang Jianhua, vice chief of the administration.

Shenzhen has promulgated the first local regulation in the nation on marine environment protection March 1, 2000. Work on the maritime safety regulation began in 2001. It took the drafters four years before the regulation was approved by the provincial people's congress this May.

Shenzhen has harbored the most foreign vessels on the Chinese mainland since 1984. The Shenzhen Port handled 13.65 million 20-foot-equivalent units of containers in 2004, making it the fourth-busiest container terminals in the world.

Editor: Wing