Wuhan approves port development plans
China's Wuhan government has approved an ambitious RMB300bn ($47.1bn) blueprint to develop Wuhan into a major shipping centre within the next five years, Seatrade Asia online reports.
The plan includes major dredging projects to accommodate 5,000 dwt ships to sail upstream of Wuhan Yangtze Bridge and 10,000 dwt ships to sail downstream. At present, only 2,000-3,000 dwt vessels can sail upstream and 3,000-5,000 dwt vessels can sail downstream.
“Wuhan government wants to strengthen the city's credentials as the major transport hub on the middle reaches of the Yangtze and the new timescales are designed to accelerate that process. The plan to establish regular container railway services to Yangluo is particularly important as it would help establish Wuhan as an important transhipment centre,” said David Lammie, director of Yangtze Business Services.
Wuhan is located within 400km radius of 45 cities in six provinces.