Wu Yanping, a deputy to the 14th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, shared a milestone achievement of Zhoushan during the congress's fourth session held in Hangzhou from Jan 14 to 17.

In November 2024, the city's Shulanghu Terminal welcomed two of the world's largest 400,000-metric-ton ore carriers, marking the first-ever simultaneous docking and unloading of such vessels at the terminal. These ships, each 360 meters long and with a deck area equivalent to three standard football fields, are part of a global fleet of only 68. Notably, all 68 massive vessels have docked at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

Docking these giants requires an impressive feat of maritime coordination. Each ship must execute a precise 90-degree turn at sea, demanding expert pilotage and meticulous scheduling. To accomplish this, six tugboats worked in tandem to moor the vessels. Customs and maritime authorities then carried out joint inspections, completing the entire docking and unloading process in just 30 minutes. This efficiency saved approximately 120,000 yuan ($17,200) in operational costs.

This achievement exemplifies Zhoushan's operational efficiency and reflects Zhejiang province's growing strengths in port technology and logistics.