The owners of the passenger ship, the Haixia, say they are expecting a spike in the number of passengers during the Lantern Festival, which takes place around mid-February to early March, according to Hellotw.com, in a Feb 21 report.

The Haixia, which has been in operation for year now, was the first commercial roll-on/roll-off ferry between Taiwan and the mainland and has become a major source of movement across the Straits.

It is expected to carry an average of 1,000 passengers during the festival period, according to an office of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, in Fujian province.

And, because February often brings heavy winds and waves off the coast of Fujian, provincial marine affairs authorities have told the Fujian Haixia High-Speed RORO Shipping Co, the ferry's owners, to have emergency preparations and a shore-based back-up plan to ensure safe travel during the crucial period.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Roger Bradshaw