A vessel loaded with 4,000 tons of bean pulp of Zhoushan Lianghai Oil & Grain Co Ltd departs from Zhoushan for Zhengpu Port in Ma'anshan, Anhui province on May 27. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz] 

A vessel loaded with 4,000 tons of bean pulp from Zhoushan Lianghai Oil & Grain Co Ltd departed from Zhoushan for Zhengpu Port in Ma'anshan, Anhui province on May 27. 

It is the first time that Zhoushan has transported bean pulp to Anhui province via the sea-river combined transportation channel. 

The move comes as part of efforts by local authorities to promote the integration of the Yangtze River Delta. Last year, the Zhoushan municipal government, Anhui Provincial Port & Shipping Group Co Ltd, and Zhejiang Seaport Group reached an agreement to strengthen cooperation in sea-river combined transportation. 

On April 14, Zhoushan Lianghai Oil & Grain Co Ltd formed a strategic partnership with Anhui Zhengpu Port Services Co Ltd. The two sides decided to ship bean pulp via sea-river combined transportation. 

The channel allows goods shipped from overseas to be transported to the Zhengpu Port along the Yangtze River in Anhui province directly, resulting in a great drop in shipping and logistics costs.

Looking ahead, the two companies plan to diversify their products and further expand their market presence in provinces such as Anhui and Henan.