Development of container ships specifically designed for both river and sea travel from the Yangshan Deep-water Port is proving successful, according to the Shanghai Port Administration Bureau.
At present,ships built for river work cannot be used at sea and vice versa. Container ships from the Yangtze River to Yangshan port must first dock at Waigaoqiao wharf and unload the cargo to be transferred to sea-going ships. It is not a cost-saving exercise, said an industry analyst.
The new ships, developed by the Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute, can meet conditions found on both the river and at sea and can also resist Force-8 grade gales.
The analyst said the structures of the ships were recognized as reasonable and they had the capacity to play a leading role nationwide.
Shanghai PanAsia Shipping Co Ltd, affiliated to the China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO Group), plans to build such ships next year and they will go into use in Shanghai Port next year.
The Ministry of Transportation also announced it would invest 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) in rectifying the main sea-routes of the Yangtze River as their transport capacities are expected to multiply by 2010.
At present,ships built for river work cannot be used at sea and vice versa. Container ships from the Yangtze River to Yangshan port must first dock at Waigaoqiao wharf and unload the cargo to be transferred to sea-going ships. It is not a cost-saving exercise, said an industry analyst.
The new ships, developed by the Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute, can meet conditions found on both the river and at sea and can also resist Force-8 grade gales.
The analyst said the structures of the ships were recognized as reasonable and they had the capacity to play a leading role nationwide.
Shanghai PanAsia Shipping Co Ltd, affiliated to the China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO Group), plans to build such ships next year and they will go into use in Shanghai Port next year.
The Ministry of Transportation also announced it would invest 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) in rectifying the main sea-routes of the Yangtze River as their transport capacities are expected to multiply by 2010.