Fengshan Port in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu province, saw its container throughput surpassing 44,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) for the first time, reaching 45,539 TEUs in 2023. This marked a 90 percent increase compared to the previous year.

As the only inland port in Nantong capable of handling 1,000-metric-ton vessels, the port has been actively consolidating its resources within the city's inland waterway transport to enhance efficiency in main shipping channels.

Since the commencement of normal operation of the inland container terminal (ICT) project at the port in 2023, businesses in Hai'an and surrounding areas have benefited significantly. The utilization of the port's ICT station for container transfers and loading has expedited import and export processes, making them more efficient and convenient.

The ICT project represents an innovative coordinated logistics model between Shanghai and Jiangsu. A container entering the Hai'an ICT station is functionally equivalent to it actually entering the Shanghai Port. This innovative model has helped eliminate the need for customers to consider any intermediate transfer stages.

Additionally, the port experienced an expansion in logistics capabilities during the last year. The port increased its number of barges from 15 to 20, with a majority of these vessels transitioning to a 64-TEU capacity, further boosting its shipping capacity and operational efficiency.

An aerial view of Fengshan Port in Hai'an. [Photo/ntjoy.com]