Shandong Port Qingdao Port quickly responded to the pre-holiday shipment test

  "Attention all units, the 'Fenghe' vessel can unmoor and depart!" The order transmitted through the intercom brought a sigh of relief to the on-duty dispatcher Wang Chuanzhi. "As of now, our shift has completed three vessels ahead of schedule, and everyone has already switched into busy year mode!" Wang Chuanzhi said with a smile.

  On February 7th, despite the temperature at the dock front dropping to minus 8 degrees, a battle against inclement weather to maintain regular operations was in full swing at the Qianwan Container Terminal of Qingdao Port. The frontline workers were all in high spirits and morale, overcoming numerous harsh conditions such as strong winds and low temperatures, strictly adhering to safety operation procedures, and promoting efficiency through safety and quality.

  "In the 'Fenghe' vessel operation, the average efficiency of the bridge crane reached a high of 35.4 TEU/hour, completing the shipment 2.5 hours ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, in the 'Panzhou Shengli' vessel operation, we completed the shipment 2 hours ahead of schedule. We have won many tough battles in production!" said Wang Shangbin, the captain of the third operation team.

  Currently, the approaching Spring Festival holiday has become an important milestone for port production. Major upstream factories are gearing up to seize the pre-holiday shipping window, preparing goods for export at full capacity. Shipping companies' ample empty container reserves and extended container demurrage periods further stimulate enterprises' enthusiasm for production and shipment. These multiple factors have pushed foreign trade shipments to remain at a high level, posing significant challenges to ports across the country.

  Ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the industrial and supply chains, and guaranteeing that material supply remains unaffected during the Spring Festival, has become a crucial task for Qingdao Port. Faced with the severe production situation, Qingdao Port has proactively shouldered its port responsibilities. All cadres and employees have united their efforts, bravely facing difficulties, and given their utmost on the front line of ensuring supply and smooth operations, silently persevering. Through practical actions, they have overcome production challenges and safeguarded the "Spring Festival travel route" for every batch of goods.

  As the dawn breaks, the Qianwan Port Area is already buzzing with activity. Container cranes swing their giant arms, precisely grabbing and smoothly lifting and lowering containers. Trucks shuttle orderly between the yard and the berths, and on-site workers are hurrying along, each link in the chain tense yet orderly. "Half a meter to the left, lower the hook, unlock!" Inside the 50-meter-high driver's cab, QQCTU bridge crane driver Guan Hongquan is intently staring at the monitor screen, his fingers deftly manipulating buttons, his tone firm. "We implement a 24-hour shift system, even eating meals in the driver's cab in shifts, just to seize every minute and alleviate the pressure of cargo turnover as soon as possible."

  To maximize operational efficiency, the container terminal of Qingdao Port has fully implemented a "round-the-clock" operation mode. Frontline workers are on duty in shifts, working in relays, and machinery equipment such as bridge cranes, rail cranes, forklifts, and container trucks operate continuously throughout the day. Amidst the biting cold and strong winds, the staff and cadres braved the low temperatures and remained at their respective work posts. From cargo unloading, stacking, to loading and transportation, every step was conducted in a tense yet orderly manner. Currently, the average efficiency of Qingdao Port's QQCTU bridge cranes reaches over 32 TEU per hour, and the operational efficiency of multiple ships has exceeded 200 TEU per hour. The rhythm of "quick berthing, quick operation, quick departure" of ships has effectively accelerated the turnover speed of ships and cargo, significantly alleviating the congestion pressure in the port area.

  In response to the concentrated arrival of goods, Qingdao Port quickly established an emergency response task force composed of multiple departments. Zhang Dong, head of the Jifa Company's department, explained: "To improve the efficiency of overall coordination and scheduling, we specifically rely on the virtual operation department to optimize the ship berthing scheduling plan in the first place, establishing an efficient 'command center' for ensuring supply and smooth operations. In addition, various units in the Qianwan Port Area have also set up a 'port-ship-terminal' three-party integrated information platform, creating exclusive 'appointed berthing window periods' for each ship, achieving 'operation upon arrival and departure upon completion of operation'." It is reported that since February 1st, all berths in the Qianwan Port Area have been fully utilized and production has been booming, with a total of dozens of operational records and high efficiency records being set. A total of 948 tugboat trips have been used, marking a year-on-year increase of 32.4%, and 503 large ships have been berthed, marking a year-on-year increase of 35.9%.

  Efficient production operations are inseparable from the optimization of the entire supply chain process. As night falls, the docks of Qingdao Port are ablaze with lights, and the roar of machinery continues to echo. At the QQCT K11 yard, Wang Xingpeng, the deputy team leader in charge of on-site inspections, is checking the stacking of containers one by one. He told reporters that in order to improve the turnover efficiency of the yard, the port has specially designated a temporary empty container stacking area, optimized the cargo distribution process, opened up a green channel for the entire supply chain from "unloading ships - handling and piling - loading trucks", and simultaneously implemented an intelligent gate system to achieve seamless verification and fast passage for trucks entering and exiting the port, significantly reducing vehicle queue time. "Currently, our yard utilization rate remains high, and each batch of goods is quickly distributed as planned to meet customer needs to the greatest extent possible."

  The production side operates efficiently, while the service side is equally warm and attentive. Facing the pressure of concentrated cargo arrivals that ports nationwide generally encounter, Qingdao Port made early predictions and proactively responded, initiating the highest level of port evacuation support measures to ensure that various operational indicators remain within a reasonable range. Relying on a 24-hour service hotline and online communication channels, the port has established an efficient customer communication mechanism to promptly respond to concerns from enterprises and cargo owners, regularly pushing information such as ship berthing and cargo operation progress, achieving transparency and visualization of operational information. "We receive daily updates on the port's progress, which gives us a sense of security," said Liu, the manager of Qingdao Yongshunhang International Logistics Co., Ltd., who was on site to inspect the operation situation. Li Weiming, a cargo owner who came to handle the cargo pickup procedures, also expressed that now the port's entry, operation, and departure processes are seamlessly connected, and efficient services have provided a "reassurance" for the company's development.

  The chill of winter cannot hinder the tide of endeavor, and the approach of spring fuels the spirit of hard work. From the loading and unloading operations at the wharf apron, to the turnover of goods in the yard, and to the attentive coordination in the service hall, port personnel are present at every position in Qingdao Port. The lights burning all night long at this wharf are the warmest material support in the spring; the perseverance and dedication of these port personnel are the most moving scenes of struggle during the festival. Qingdao Port, a part of Shandong Port Group, is maintaining a full-capacity working state and a strong sense of responsibility, persevering in the cold wave and forging ahead in busyness. With the persistence of all personnel, round-the-clock operation, full speed efficiency, and full dedication, it firmly safeguards every link in the industrial and supply chains, providing the most solid port support for the Spring Festival.