A passenger ferry sank in the Red Sea on Friday, jolting Chinese authorities to intensify safety measures on marine traffic, particularly during the ongoing Chinese Lunar New Year peak travel period.

The MOC issued a notice over the weekend, urging local marine transport departments to strengthen supervision over waterway traffic.

Additional attention must be paid to the safety of passenger vessels, particularly roll-on roll-off (RORO) ferries, and aid and rescue measures must also be properly in place for emergencies.

In the meantime, the ministry has demanded that Chinese vessels passing through or nearby the site of the accident must offer any necessary rescue assistance.

The Egyptian registered ferry, Al-Salaam Boccaccio 98, carrying 1,310 passengers, 104 crew, 22 cars and 16 trucks disappeared from the radar screens shortly after it left the Saudi Arabian port of Duba at 7:30 PM local time last Thursday.

Police said about 700 people are missing and search teams have recovered 195 bodies.

President Hu Jintao on Saturday sent separate messages of condolence to the leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the loss of lives in the tragedy.

Meanwhile, the latest three accidents in Chinese waters have also rung alarm bells for the nation's waterway transport safety authorities.

According to the Maritime Safety Administration of China, a total of 17 people drowned or went missing in three separate accidents between January 20 and February 2.

Although most Chinese prefer to travel by rail, low cost water transportation is also an option for those living near or traveling to port cities.

(China Daily February 6, 2006)