The construction pace has been stepped up at Gaolan Port as two larger-cargo berths are already in operation, two are in trial stages, and three more should open this year.

This will enable the Gaolan Port Economic Zone to handle an increasing load of cargo from large vessels using a deeper main channel that can handle 150,000-dwt ships. This is all part of Gaolan Port Container Terminal Phase II.

The main channel cost over 1 billion yuan ($149 million). It will accommodate cruise ships as well as container vessels, bulk cargo ships, and tankers. Construction began a few years ago as upgrading port capacity was becoming increasingly imperative. The new channel is 16.25 km (10 miles) long and 230-to-290 m (754-to-951 ft) wide and passed examination on Jan 29.

In addition, a container terminal designed for annual throughput of 1.8 million TEUs is in its second phase of expansion. 

Construction of Gaolan Port Container Terminal Phase II [Photo courtesy Zhuhai TV]

Costing 3.86 billion yuan ($575 million) approved by the Ministry of Transport, the facilities will include container berths with lengths of 1,022 m (1,118 yd) as well as break-bulk cargo berths at 804 m. The total length of the port shoreline is to be 1,826 m (1,997 yd).

According to Guan Qinghuan, manager of the Operation Department of Zhuhai International Container Terminal (Gaolan), there will be one berth for 100,000-dwt ships, two for 50,000-dwt ships, one for 40,000-dwt ships, and two for 30,000-dwt ships, plus one for 10,000-dwt break bulk ships.

The harbor basin of Gaolan Port exceeds 880 m (962 yd) in width, enough for free-turning of freighters of 100,000 tons or more. Guan said that the third phase, which is on the drawing board, will add seven 100,000-dwt container berths.

Gaolan Port achieved cargo throughput of 128 million tons in 2018 at 1.85 million TEUs. It is preparing to transport more containers carrying coal, metal ore, grain, and petroleum and be equipped with the most multimodal transport system in the Pearl River Delta.