Shanghai Port has exceeded the milestone of handling 50 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers this year, and is on track to remain the world's busiest port for the 16th consecutive year.

In the first 11 months, the port handled 50.56 million TEUs of containers, a 6.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Yangshan Port, a key component of Shanghai Port, processed 26.25 million TEUs during the period, up 9.7 percent, according to Zhou Yong, an executive from Shanghai International Port Group.

The port's efficiency has been continuously boosted by technological advancements. At the Phase IV automated terminal, smart operations are reshaping workflow.

Processes such as "simultaneous loading and unloading" and "fully automated hazardous material handling" enable multiple automated devices to operate in coordination like a symphony.

The terminal has also built a port-level simulation testing platform that enables virtual verification of new processes and algorithms before they are applied on site.

At the Phase III terminal, AI-powered smart stowage systems can calculate container placement 13 times faster than manual methods, reducing the reloading rate by 20.6 percent.

Traditional berths at Yangshan Port are being upgraded as well. Overhauls of the Phase I and II terminals began in 2022.

While existing facilities are being strengthened, the port is also expanding for the future. Construction of the Xiaoyangshan north area is underway.

When completed, it will add 6,100 meters of new shoreline, including 5,500 meters for berthing, with a designed annual throughput capacity of 11.6 million TEUs. The first section is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Dec 10 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first phase of the Yangshan Deep-Water Port.

Just five years after the Yangshan began operations, Shanghai surpassed Singapore in annual container throughput for the first time and became the world's largest container port.

Source: Jiefang Daily