The extended Shulanghu terminal at the Ningbo Zhoushan Port in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsqdxq]

The vessel Broad Peak, carrying 170,000 metric tons of iron ore, docked at the Shulanghu terminal of the Ningbo Zhoushan Port in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province on March 17.

It was the first international vessel to berth at the extended section of the terminal since its public opening on March 12. The extension, expanding 110 meters northward from the original berth, includes a segment that is 47 meters wide, giving the entire unloading dock a length of 945 meters.

The extension is expected to increase annual unloading capacity by 18 million tons, establishing it as the world's only fully automated bulk cargo terminal capable of simultaneously accommodating two 400,000-ton iron ore vessels.

In response to the terminal's unique location on a suspended island, Zhoushan Customs has implemented measures such as rapid laboratory inspections and prioritized processing of customs clearance procedures to enhance the efficiency of imported iron ore clearance.

Zhoushan Customs is also actively exploring remote inspection models to facilitate the full-process automation of remote inspections, allowing on-site inspection and sampling during unloading and further improving the regulatory efficiency of imported iron ore.

Over the eight years since the terminal began operating, annual imports of iron ore surged from 7.31 million tons to 36.91 million tons. Its business has also expanded from the storage and transit of imported iron ore to include new ventures such as bonded ore blending.