Shandong Port Group's (SPG) Weifang Port announced the official launch of the 50,000-metric-ton channel project on Dec 25, dubbed a pivotal step forward in its endeavors to become a deep-water port.

Over the years, SPG has been committed to driving the high-quality development of the Bohaiwan Port Group, quickening its progress toward becoming a 100-million-ton port. The official commencement of the 50,000-ton channel project signifies a higher starting point of SPG to continuously upgrade port capacity and deepen its support for Weifang's economic and social development. With focus on enhancing hub capacity, upgrading service levels and bolstering in-depth port-industry-city integration, SPG is poised to act as a reliable partner for Weifang's high-level opening-up and economic and social development, thereby making greater contributions to promoting Weifang's pursuit of the "trillion-yuan city".

A number of significant achievements were announced during the event. SPG Bohaiwan Port Group was awarded the Certificate of Carbon Neutrality by China Classification Society Quality Certification Co Ltd, becoming China's first port group to be certified as  "zero-carbon". This marks a crucial milestone in SPG's efforts to implement China's dual carbon strategy and accelerate the building of an internationally advanced smart and green port, providing a "Shandong model" for the sustainable development of the national port industry.

In addition, the event witnessed another two milestones — Bohaiwan Port's container throughput exceeding one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and cargo volume transshipped via Weifang Port along the Xiaoqing River topping 1.5 million tons — all demonstrated SPG's steady improvement in operational efficiency and the robust momentum of the Xiaoqing River's river-sea combined transportation model.

The launch ceremony of the 50,000-metric-ton channel project is hosted on Dec 25. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]