To effectively meet the rising demand for cross-strait transportation in the Qiongzhou Strait, Hainan Strait Shipping Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING, is committed to a dual approach of internal enhancement and external expansion. This involves significant upgrades to berths and the widening of navigational channels in both Xiuying and Xinhai port areas.

Enhanced Berthing Capacity at the Terminal

In response to heightened sea crossing demands during peak periods and extreme weather conditions, Hainan Strait Shipping has undertaken improvements to berths 11# and 16# within the Xiuying Port Area. These enhancements have increased the berthing capacities to 10,000 Gross Tonnes (GT) and 30,000 GT respectively. Since the onset of this year, critical infrastructure projects such as essential maintenance and repairs and hydropower support equipment installation to berth 11#, and ramp renovation at berth 16# have been successfully completed. Moreover, ongoing efforts include the setup of operational equipment and facilities. The company executed a successful berthing and unberthing maneuver with a 10,000-ton passenger Ro-Ro vessel at berth 11# on September 27. This exercise validated the effectiveness of the terminal upgrades. Moving forward, the company plans to further strengthen hardware capabilities, persist with berth transformation projects, expedite the operationalization and certification of berth 16#, and accelerate the deployment of berth services. These initiatives aim to efficiently manage the surge in transportation anticipated during the Spring Festival of 2025.

Expanded waterway capacity to improve the handling capacity of ports

To enhance the operational efficiency and service quality of Xinhai Port, the company is intensively exploring methods to expand the navigational channel’s capacity for both entry and exit through the port. The company is committed to transforming the current “one-way navigation” system into a more efficient “two-way navigation.” With the support of senior industry experts, the company has successfully completed a mid-year demonstration of navigation conditions. Building on this achievement, the company will actively collaborate with relevant government departments to facilitate critical tasks such as fishing net clearance, navigation beacon deployment, safety assessments, and data integration within the Xinhai port area. These efforts aim to expedite the widening of the navigational channel, enabling two-way traffic flow and maximizing the transport capacity across the Qiongzhou Strait.

Moving forward, COSCO SHIPPING remains steadfast in its mission to boost the Ro-Ro capacity of the Qiongzhou Strait. We will delve into research and development of hardware enhancements, including the reconstruction and expansion of berths, as well as breakwaters on both sides of the strait. These initiatives are designed to provide a robust framework for establishing a safe, efficient, smooth, and orderly passage across the Qiongzhou Strait.