The third phase of the multi-million dollar dredging project at the mouth of the Yangtze that aims to increase water depth to 12.5 metres has started its ‘final push’ ahead of schedule, according to the Yangtze River Administration. The original plan was to reach a depth of 11.3 metres by the end of October. But by 16 September, a water depth of 11.62 metres had already been achieved. According to the plan, the final push will start in October and last until March 2010, when the 12.5 metre target will be achieved.

This 120km section of the river’s lower reaches accounts for more than 60 per cent of all traffic along the Yangtze trunk line. Every extra metre in water depth typically allows the passage of another 1,000 teu, thus reducing shipping costs significantly.

Dredging work began in 1998 on the first phase after the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai municipal government agreed to fund the project to allow third- and fourth-generation container vessels to sail in and out all year round. The first phase was completed in 2002, leaving a 74km stretch of the northern channel at the mouth with a depth of 8.5 metres. The second phase was completed in 2005 when the water depth reached 10.5 metres.