A massive Valemax-class bulk ore carrier Pacific Career carrying 333,800 tons of iron ore docked on Aug 5 at No 502 Berth at Yantai West port – a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group or SPG, based in Qingdao city in East China's Shandong province – and disgorged its cargo at a daily unloading rate reaching 220,000 tons.

This was the 34th Valemax vessel to have called at Yantai Port since the port's 400,000 DWT (deadweight tons) ore terminal got the official green light to start operations on Aug 6, 2020. With a total of 10 million tons of ore discharged since then, the Valemax visits mark the port's elevation to an elite group of ports worldwide that can handle mega dry bulk carriers.

Over the past year since its official start of operations, Yantai Port has closely followed SPG's move to become an internationally advanced smart and green port, employing modern technology to power its performance moving forwards.

By developing a specialized fully automatic controls system for its ore terminal and a 3D digitalized terminal controls system, the port has realized whole-process automatic controls for unloading, blending, loading and entrucking.

As the new technology has been introduced and handling productivity has escalated, the port has broken a succession of records for iron ore carrier unloading efficiency over four consecutive years. It has achieved first-class efficiency in handling 306,600 tons of iron ore in a single day and unloading 128,000 tons of iron ore per hour from a single ship.

In the meantime, Yantai Port has stepped up its efforts to boost its service level in terms of both software and hardware systems, in order to further embrace the industry concept of "synergy in services".

By capitalizing on multiple advantages brought about by its 400,000 DWT ore terminal – and its position as a blending base for incoming iron ore – Yantai Port has become the only port enterprise nationwide to carry out the blending business for four types of cargo via specialized process lines.

It is understood that thanks to its quality and efficient handling services and top-rate ore blending products, the port has won high recognition from customers from home and abroad.

As such, the port has made new breakthroughs in extending its core competitiveness, optimizing cargo categories and improving its service capacity.