In the bustling Laohu operational sector of Dongping port area, located at Tai'an port in Shandong province, a fleet of cargo vessels laden with fertilizers stands poised for departure, painting a vibrant tableau along the waterfront.

"Our shipment of over 10,000 metric tons of Ruixing urea fertilizer is set to embark for Anhui, Jiangsu, and other regions, where it will bolster local spring planting efforts," said Liang Jiuming, head of Dongping Huhaitong Port Co Ltd.

Towards the end of 2024, the "three-to-two" project along the Jining to Dongping stretch of the illustrious Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal commenced navigational operations, increasing waterborne transport capacity from the 1,000-ton to 2,000-ton class and enhancing navigational conditions and efficiency. Departing vessels from Tai'an port chart a southerly course along the Grand Canal, ultimately reaching the Yangtze River.

The upgraded waterway not only augments the efficacy of waterborne transport but also directly slashes transportation costs for enterprises. In terms of annual transshipment volume, utilizing vessels with a capacity exceeding 2,000 tons can lead to direct cost savings totaling several millions of dollars per year compared to vessels with a capacity of 1,000 tons.

Within the first month of this year alone, the Pengji operational zone of Tai'an port welcomed 86 specialized coal trains, with a combined transportation volume of 524,000 tons. Concurrently, the Laohu operational sector dispatched over 10 varieties of goods, including building materials, grains, and coke, amounting to a total transportation volume of 125,000 tons. The aggregate port transportation volume in the city soared to 649,000 tons, marking an impressive 146 percent year-on-year surge.