“CSG Navy” - Our Commitment & Missions in the Qiongzhou Straits

Crew members of the “CSG Navy” check the deep-sea conditions in the submarine cable protection zone

Hainan – The Qiongzhou Straits - separating the Leizhou Peninsula from Hainan Island and connecting the Gulf of Tonkin on the west to the South China Sea on its east - has an average width of nearly 30 kilometers from north to south.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, several technicians depart from an administration fishing ship on their patrol of 500 kV submarine cables across the Straits along the designated submarine cable protection zone. These technicians and many more cadres make up the emergency patrol team from the submarine cable operation and maintenance department of the Haikou branch of Guangzhou Bureau of Extra High Voltage Power Transmission Company.

All have been given the moniker of the “CSG Navy”.

Every day there are thousands of sailing and shipping vessels passing through the Qiongzhou Straits. In addition, random anchoring or constantly dragged anchor scenarios in the submarine cable protection zone, be it incurred by fast-flowing ocean currents, “fickle” weather, or due to mechanical failure can damage these fragile cables and inflict huge economic losses as cable repair is a laborious, time consuming effort.

These challenges to the safety of these important undersea cables also severely affect normal power supply of and safety for Hainan and its 8.67 million residents.

So whenever fishing vessels break down or other key maritime safety issues occur, the CSG team takes the following measures:

First, they detail the vessel information and look into the “abnormal” conditions of these fishing vessels, and

Second, team members inform fishermen of the risks of submarine cable protection and navigation requirements to help instruct the fishermen gain a better understanding of submarine cable protection.

Over the past decade the “CSG Emergency and Patrol Team” has not only assumed but have taken on the important challenges of running and maintaining this 30-kilometer-long submarine cable – even when no submarine cable damage have been recorded.

It is these valiant and tireless efforts that culminate in effectively guaranteeing the power supply and safety of tens of thousands of households and hundreds of vacation resorts throughout Hainan Island.

There is no doubt of the success of the CSG Emergency and Patrol Team that continually strives to optimize the power supply structure; improve the power generation configuration and power supply reliability for the Hainan power grid as well as supporting the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Zone (Port).