The vessel Occitan Pessac docks at a wharf in the Zhoushan Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone located in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The vessel Occitan Pessac departed from the Zhoushan Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone on Sept 23, carrying over 2,000 metric tons of cargo and marking the launch of its new shipping route to Guyana, Suriname.

This new route is the first direct shipping line from Zhejiang province to Guyana, currently operating on a monthly schedule.

Previously, containers and general cargo from Yiwu, Zhejiang, to Guyana and Suriname had to be transshipped internationally, taking over 100 days, according to Xu Chi, assistant general manager of Zhoushan Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone Wharf Co.

"The new route reduces the journey to about 45 days, significantly cutting logistics costs for businesses. It also provides Chinese enterprises in Guyana and Suriname with more essential production and living supplies, supporting the Belt and Road Initiative," said Xu.

To ensure the smooth launch of the new route, Zhoushan Customs established an on-site support team, providing real-time guidance and cargo tracking. It also optimized the supervision of export containers, significantly reducing idle time for cargo and achieving the efficient loading of export cargo.

From January to August, the Zhoushan Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone handled 34,715 twenty-foot equivalent units of import and export containers, a year-on-year increase of 53.5 percent, with a notable improvement in terminal handling efficiency.