The civil construction phase of wharfs 1 to 3 in the Sangangchi port area of Tongzhou Bay Port in Nantong, Jiangsu province has surpassed the halfway mark. The wharf is Nantong's first coastal wharf with a capacity of 200,000 metric tons.

The project involves the creation of two bulk cargo berths capable of handling up to 200,000 tons each. The berths are designed to manage an annual volume of 28.1 million tons. The total investment in the project is approximately 2.52 billion yuan ($345.46 million), and the anticipated duration of construction is 27 months.

Located about 13 kilometers off the coastline, the construction site presents challenging conditions. As there is no direct land access, transportation of personnel, equipment, and materials relies on maritime vessels.

Additionally, the formidable natural environment, coupled with the potential impact of severe weather phenomena like typhoons and cold snaps, underscores the difficulty of managing safety, quality, and speed.

In response to these challenges, the project stakeholders have devised new approaches to construction management. More than 30 systems, addressing aspects such as quality assurance and safety management, have been established. A suite of intelligent management systems has also been developed to ensure that construction progresses smoothly.

At present, the construction team is primarily engaged in the prefabrication and installation of upper structures such as beams and decks. The prefabrication is 85 percent complete, while installation is 40 percent complete. The main civil construction of the terminal is expected to be completed by the first half of next year.

An aerial view of the wharf construction. [Photo/Nantong Daily]