Two ocean-going specialist tar-carrying vessels built in Chongqing safely passed the seasonally low waters in the middle reaches of the Yangtze on 29 October, joining another vessel that was delivered earlier in the month. This is the first time that vessels as large as 10,000 dwt have passed through the middle reaches in the dry season.

Bound for Nanjing and Nantong, the vessels are each 130 metres long and nearly 30 metres wide. Maritime safety authorities dispatched 25 pilot boats involving more than 300 people along the way to facilitate the delivery.

Typically, only 3,000-5,000 dwt vessels can pass the middle reaches during the dry season.