Vessels carrying very dangerous cargos are forbidden to pass the Three Gorges Dam area for 10 days starting from September 28, a measure to prevent safety risks around the National Day celebration period, the local navigation authority said.

The Yangtze River navigation administration said all ships passing through the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam are required to undergo strict safety examinations between Sunday to October 10, in an effort to avoid public safety incidents including pollution, violent and terrorist events.

Those carrying top-class dangerous goods will be banned for passage, it said.

All ships must offer the identities of the staff, the number of passengers, detailed information about cargos and voyage certificates.

Police patrolling and monitoring measures with advanced equipment have been intensified along the Three Gorges area.

The Three Gorges Project, initiated in 1993, is a multi-functional water control system built on the upper and middle reaches of the country's longest waterway, the Yangtze River.

Its main components include the dam, a five-tier ship lock system, and 26 hydropower turbo-generators. Its key functions are flood control, power generation, shipping and water supplies.

The reservoir began to raise the water level from the 145.87-meter mark to 175 meters Tuesday, which will allow the giant project to fully play its multifunctional roles.

Many other regions across China have also stepped up measures against safety risks to ensure a stable environment for the 60th National Day of the People's Republic of China that falls on October 1.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2009)