THE 150,000-tonne navigational channel project in Meishan port area at eastern China's Ningbo-Zhoushan port has opened to world's largest containerships of 18,000 TEU, or 150,000 tonnes, to sail on the channel to the port after its completion in the early half next year.
Among the berths at Meishan Bonded Port Area's container terminal, No 1 and 2 has been in operation, the rest three will become operational by the end of year. With five berths in operation, the port will have enough capacity to accommodate containerships of 150,000 tonnes. Nos 6 to No 10 berths, which are now built to handle these ships.
But the navigational channel at the port area can only allow ships of 100,000 to sail through. Hence the need for further dredging.
The project, costing CNY30 million (US44.88 million), will enhance Ningbo-Zhoushan port's container handling capacity and attract more international services, said Xinhua.