Post date: Jan 04, 2013 10:53:52 AM
The Laizhou Bay in east China is hit by the worst sea ice in three years, with more than 1,000 ships stranded, state media reports.
LAIZHOU BAY, YANTAI CITY, SHANDONG PROVINCE, CHINA (JANUARY 3, 2012) ( (CCTV) - A cold snap created a thick layer of sea ice in the Laizhou Bay in east China's Shandong province, stranding over 1,000 ships, state media reported on Friday (January 4).
Official Xinhua news agency reported that the ice expanded to 291 square km (112 sq miles) this week and is continuing to grow.Local media reports added the ice had stretched 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) from the coast with the thickest part as deep as 20 centimetres (7.87 inches).
"We observed the sea ice has extended three nautical miles in less than 24 hours since late yesterday, and more parts of the sea will be frozen with the plummeting temperatures," said Li Qianzhen, a border police officer.
Xinhua said the sea ice may cause heavy losses for local fishermen as it is difficult for them to penetrate the ice in order to provide adequate oxygen for sea cucumbers and other marine organisms.
Coastal police warned that the ice may cause damage to vessels passing through deeper sea areas near the Bohai and Yellow seas, according to Xinhua.