China has built a lighthouse on the reef in the South China Sea

Almaty. April 6. Silkroadnews - On Tuesday China’s Ministry of Transport held a “completion ceremony”, marking the completion of construction and start of operation of the lighthouse on Subi reef of Nansha islands in South China Sea, Xinhua news agency writes.

According to information, the construction of the Subi lighthouse began in October 2015. 4.5m in diameter lamp with rotating lights inside is installed on top of the 55-meter-high lighthouse. Lighthouse operation is controlled by a remote control terminal satellite of the navigation system “Beidou”.  

Automatic identification system and VHF stations inside the lighthouse can ensure the efficient navigation services, including the provision of such services, as positioning reference, route guidance and providing information on navigation safety for ships, that can improve the navigation control and emergency responses.

South China Sea is an important sea corridor connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as a major fishing area.

However, a set of factors such as the high density of traffic, difficult navigation conditions and lack of assistance and response forces collecting the spilled oil from the water surface, threatens the safety of navigation and prevents economic and social development of the region.

Last year, to improve the emergency response in the sea within this area, China’s Ministry of Transport began the construction of large multipurpose lighthouses.

According to the publication, the lighthouses on the reefs Huai’An, Chigu, Subi in the South China Sea will help China to better fulfill its international obligations in terms of marine research and rescue at sea, prevention and elimination of natural disasters, protection of the marine environment and safety of navigation.