The first two berths of Da Chan Bay Terminal One in Western Shenzhen were opened today.

A host of mainland dignitaries were at the opening ceremony of the terminal that is majority owned by Wharf (Holdings) subsidiary Modern Terminals.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Wharf (Holdings) chairman Peter Woo said the other three berths of Da Chan Bay Terminal One would be completed during 2008.

The Hong Kong operator holds 65 percent and will manage the operation. The other 35 percent is held by Shenzhen Dachan Bay Port Investment and Development Co, a company under the state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shenzhen Municipal Government.

Situated in the Western Shenzhen Port area in South China, the Da Chan Bay terminal is designed to serve the Pan-Pearl River Delta cargo catchment areas and cater to the demands created by the region's phenomenal economic growth, which is expected to continue driving double-digit annual increases in the throughput of South China's terminals in the coming years.

When completed, Terminal One will cover a total area of 112 hectares. It will have five berths and a quayside that is 1,830 metres long and 600 metres wide.

Its quay depth is -15.5 metres, capable of handling the world's largest existing vessels. This will be dredged to -18 metres in the future, enabling it to handle even bigger container vessels being planned.

Environmental considerations have played an important role in the process of planning and building the Terminal. Reclamation and port basin dredging work were carried out seamlessly to reduce the environmental impact.

Dredged material was transported to reclaim land around the yard area, preventing it from affecting water quality and avoiding the need to use mountain rock for reclamation, which could have damaged the surrounding landscape.

Wharf's subsidiary Modern Terminals Limited has a 65-percent shareholding in Da Chan Bay Terminal One. The other 35 percent of this new Terminal's shares are held by Shenzhen Dachan Bay Port Investment and Development Co, a company under the State-owned
Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shenzhen Municipal Government.