The vessel SITC Jiade docks at the Dapukou container terminal in the Jintang port area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on Sept 23. [Photo/Tide News]

The vessel SITC Jiade docked at the Dapukou container terminal in the Jintang port area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on Sept 23. The ship departed from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and is bound for Japan.

This marks the inaugural voyage of the SITC Kanto route to Zhoushan and the first Japan-bound route to dock at the Dapukou container terminal following the recent adjustments made to the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's shipping area. With this addition, the number of international routes at the Dapukou container terminal has increased to 42.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is a key container distant-water port in China and one of the country's main hub ports. Following the opening of berths No 4 and No 5 at the Dapukou container terminal, Japan and Red Sea routes have been relocated to this terminal. This adjustment includes the transfer of 10 Japan routes and six Red Sea routes.

Following the SITC Kanto route, other routes are expected to commence operations at the Dapukou container terminal in the near future, bringing the total number of international routes at the terminal to a record high of 57.

Since the beginning of this year, Zhoushan maritime authorities have supported the establishment of 12 new international routes at the Dapukou container terminal, escorted 2,200 international shipping vessels, and facilitated the transport of 1.75 million metric tons of cargo, according to Tide News on Sept 24.