Hannes Oldendorff, a Portuguese bulk cargo ship, is supplied with $770,000 worth of oil, water and cargo at the anchorage ground on Qushan Island. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

The northern port area of Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang province started comprehensive maritime services on Jan 20 after its oil supply anchorage was completed, local media reported.

The Hannes Oldendorff, a Portuguese bulk cargo ship loaded with 186,000 metric tons of iron ore, was supplied with $770,000 worth of oil, water and cargo at the anchorage ground on Qushan Island.

"The ship owner is really satisfied with the service on Qushan Island. Compared with the planned supplies on Mazhi Island, the resupply on Qushan Island saved the owner more than $40,000," said the business manager of Zhoushan Xinnuo Shipping Agency Co, the agent of the Hannes Oldendorff.

According to the business manager, their clients have more than 200 international ships seeking supply at the anchorage grounds in northern port area of Zhoushan Port every year.

A staff member from the Zhoushan shipping and port bureau said that more than 1.88 million tons of oil was provided by the anchorage grounds of Zhoushan Port last year, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the total amount in Zhoushan Port.

He noted that the new oil supply anchorage will ease the pressure of its counterpart in the southern port area.

Statistics from the Zhoushan shipping and port bureau shows that more than 45,000 international ships enter, leave or pass by the northern sea of Zhoushan each year, taking up 42 percent of the city's total. Most of the ships that stop at the city are high-service value ships, such as container carriers and large bulk carriers.