Two officers from Zhoushan's exit-entry border inspection station provide onsite supervision. [Photo/Tide News]

A Panama-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier vessel recently departed from the LNG terminal in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, after unloading over 62,000 metric tons of LNG. 

The vessel's quick clearance and immediate departure highlighted the success of nine newly introduced immigration measures.

The "Nine Immigration Measures" are designed to support the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in its goal to develop a globally competitive bulk commodity resource allocation hub. These measures include streamlined border inspections, support for establishing a crew change service center in Zhoushan, and further opening the Ningbo-Zhoushan port area.

Yang Zhuo, a representative from the city's exit-entry border inspection station, said that they now conduct exit formalities during cargo operations rather than after, which allows vessels to depart immediately after unloading.

One key change — completing exit inspections simultaneously with unloading — has notably reduced average clearance times. Ji Yuheng, deputy general manager of a Zhoushan based transshipment and storage company, noted that bulk carriers now clear customs nearly two hours faster, saving ship operators around $5,000 per vessel.

Zhoushan's exit-entry border inspection station plans to continue reforming its processes to balance border security with trade facilitation, supporting Zhejiang's goal to become a leading international hub for bulk commodity distribution.