China announces ship ban to protect Three Gorges reservoir ( 2003-09-02 14:58) (Xinhua)
China will ban certain ships from entering the Three Gorges reservoir area
from Oct. 1 to protect the dam's water resources.
The Ministry of Communications announced that the ban covers vessels with
removable oars and those made of cement and wood.
The ban also aims to increase the effectiveness of the permanent ship lock
and the traffic capacity of the Three Gorges, said the ministry.
Disqualified passenger boats, oil tankers and vessels carrying chemical
materials, along with disqualified freight vessels and sight-seeing boats are
also on the list.
Ships with a capacity below 100 tons will be forbidden from 2004, and ships
of less than 200 tons from 2005.
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