The third-phase construction of Yangshan deepwater terminal was completed on 4 December, expanding the terminal’s annual throughput to 9.3m teu said Liu Zuoliang, chairman of Shanghai Tongsheng Investment Group and vice director of the project.
The completed north part of Yangshan is equipped with 16 berths along a 5.6km waterfront. It took six-and-a-half years to complete.
Liu admitted that the global economic crisis had impacted operations, with a container handling growth of 9 per cent in the first 11 months of 2008 well down on same period in the previous year. Freight rates from Shanghai to Europe have slumped from US$1,300 to US$200 per container over the course of this year, Liu added.
However, the Shanghai government is pressing ahead with the construction plan of Yangshan; a total of 30 berths will be built on a 10km waterfront, able to handle 15m teu a year upon completion. In 2009, construction of the port's west part will begin, comprising 10 to 12 berths with a designed capacity of 7m teu. These berths will gradually come into use between 2010 and 2013.