An ore carrier loaded with 400,000 metric tons of iron ore berths at the Shulanghu Wharf in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on Aug 6, making it the 37th 400,000-ton ore carrier to berth there this year. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

An ore carrier loaded with 400,000 metric tons of iron ore berthed at the Shulanghu Wharf in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on Aug 6, making it the 37th 400,000-ton ore carrier to berth there this year, local media reported.

Traffic permit for 400,000-ton ore carriers is a goal for many ports, as large ships not only bring more cargos and increased profits, but also provide a boost to industries involved in the iron ore trading industrial chain.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China has 11 berths approved to receive 400,000-ton ore carriers, three of which are located in Zhoushan Port.

Shulanghu has two 400,000-ton berths and is the largest ore transfer wharf in China. In March 2019, the cumulative throughput of the port exceeded 100 million tons, and in the first half of this year, the wharf received 31 400,000-ton ore carriers, a year-on-year increase of 24 percent.

The Zhoushan Port area currently has 300 berths, including 82 10,000-ton berths, with an overall throughput capacity of nearly 500 million tons.

Meanwhile, in order to make it easier to accommodate large ships, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has been promoting the trial of channels for 400,000-ton ships and expanding artificial water courses.