East China’s Jiangsu province has made new achievements in port and shipping engineering construction in recent years. Let’s take a close look.
The construction of Chengzihe Ship Lock in Siyang County will connect the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal with Hongze Lake and Huaihe River, improve the water transportation network in Suqian, reduce the cost of water transportation, and promote the development of the local economy.
"From the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal to Hongze Lake to the Huaihe River, the ship can avoid detours by 90 kilometers, save half a day, save about 2,000 yuan in diesel oil, which is a big profit for 1,000-ton freighters," said Qiao Xing, Director of Suqian Chengzi River Lock Management Office.
Relying on the improved water transport network, Suqian has successively introduced several tens of billions of projects for investment and construction.
"As a branch of the world's top 500 Shenghong Group, we will make an investment of over 20 billion to produce 2.5 million tons of high-end polyester filament by employing 10000 workers," said Kong Wenlong, Head of Shenghong New Materials (Suqian) Co., Ltd.
Qiao Xing told that the improved river transportation system serves the local economic and social development, and the grade II waterway under construction will give Suqian and the entire northern Jiangsu more convenient and direct access to the sea.
Cargo ships loaded with coal, ore and yellow sand are waiting to pass through the Yangzhuang Ship Lock in Huaian City and enter the Salt River Channel and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, injecting vitality into regional economic development.
"Container ships are given priority to pass free of charge, to ensure the development of local economy. Since 2018, the cargo volume of the lock has increased from more than 400,000 tons of containers to 910,000 tons now," said Yu Tao, Director of Yangzhuang Ship Lock Management Office.
Ten years ago, the annual throughput of various ships here was only more than 5 million tons. After expansion and reconstruction in recent years, the annual throughput has reached more than 26 million tons.
"Before 2012, the Yangzhuang lock was congested and ships had to wait 10 days to pass which was not conducive to economic construction. Ships can now pass through the locks in about a few hours," said Yu.
