The photo shows the thousand-ton cargo ship Luqing No. 101 undergoing an empty-load trial. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Recently, with the sounding of its whistle, the thousand-ton cargo ship Luqing No. 101 sailed into Jinan Port, marking completion of the engineering project to resume Xiaoqing River navigation in North China's Shandong Province. As the project is now fully completed, it opens a new land-sea passage for Shandong, and brings about a magnificent transformation of the ancient 900-year-old waterway.
The project was invested and constructed by China Railway Construction Investment Group Corporation Limited, with participation from CRCC Harbour & Channel Engineering Group Co., Ltd., China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd., China Railway 14th Bureau Group Corporation Limited, and China Railway 25th Bureau Group Corporation Limited, all of which are subsidiaries of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).
The photo shows the cargo ship after it has passed under the G308 Xiaoqing River Bridge. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The purpose of the empty-load trial is to conduct joint debugging, joint testing and data collection of various elements such as ships, waterways, ship locks, and the digital waterway guarantee system. Throughout the trial voyage, the ship sailed smoothly and steadily.
The photo shows an aerial view of the Xiaoqing River navigation project. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Although one of the main water channels in Shandong and part of the "One Vertical and Three Horizontal" inland rivers development pattern, the Xiaoqing River was suspended in 1997 due to insufficient water and other reasons, and has remained closed for 26 years.
With the implementation of the resumption project, CRCC overcame a number of difficulties such as flood control, challenging construction conditions, diverse project contents, and tight construction schedules. Over three years of construction, the river was dredged and widened, resulting in a broader waterway and clearer water quality. The navigation conditions have undergone remarkable changes. It can now accommodate 2,000-ton-level ships, and the digital waterway guarantee system makes shipping smarter, more convenient, and safer.
The photo shows local villagers near the Xiaoqing River coming to watch the empty load trial. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
After the full reopening of the channel, sea-river intermodal transportation can be realized. Thousand-ton ships will pass directly through the cities of Jinan, Binzhou, Zibo, Dongying, and Weifang through the Xiaoqing River and go directly to the ocean. This will significantly drive the transformation of old and new economic forces and upgrade industries in Shandong. In addition, it is of great significance in further promoting economic and trade integration of the five cities along the route, enhancing the transportation service level in Shandong, and playing a crucial role in building a comprehensive and multi-dimensional transportation system and establishing Shandong as a demonstration transportation powerhouse.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
