Container vessels berth at the Port of Yangshan to clear cargo around the clock in Shanghai on January 2, 2022. In 2021, the Port of Shanghai handled over 47 million standard containers, ranking first among the world's ports for the 12th consecutive year. Photo: VCG

Despite new COVID-19 outbreaks in several places across China, major Chinese ports have been operating normally without disruptions, industry insiders said on Wednesday, refuting claims in foreign media that the latest wave of infections in China would push up global shipping costs.    

According to the industry insiders, the majority of Chinese ports have witnessed several rounds of COVID-19 and they have already developed a port operation mechanism under epidemic situations, which has been practiced and improved and can help ensure smooth port operations. 

Some foreign media outlets have reported that more container ships are waiting off Qingdao Port, citing the new COVID-19 outbreaks in China, which "add more delays to a strained global supply chain."

But, a person close to the Qingdao Port, told the Global Times that at present, the loading and unloading operations in the port areas of Qingdao Port are normal and that the person sees little impact on port operation from the new COVID-19 cases.

"Temperature measurement and inspection of personnel and vehicles entering and leaving the port areas are carried out strictly," the person said on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity.

But drivers can pass smoothly on the basis of normal body temperature test, negative nucleic acid test report within 48 hours, green health code and travel code, and a vehicle pass for transport of key materials, according to the person.

The insider also revealed that Qingdao Port currently provides multimodal transport, such as ship-to-railway coordinated transport, which means that cargo unloaded at port can be transferred directly by train.

Despite claims in some foreign media outlets about port disruptions, there have been no reports or announcement of major disruptions as of press time on Wednesday. 

Shenzhen's Yantian Port in South China's Guangdong Province on Monday also announced that it maintains normal operation, even though the city has taken strict anti-epidemic measures to rein in the latest outbreak. 

Meanwhile, the water transport channel opened to supply daily necessities to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from ports in Shenzhen still operated smoothly.

As of Monday, Yantian Port has delivered 66,200 tons of goods to Hong Kong, while Dachanwan wharf has delivered 17,445 tons of goods to Hong Kong, according to Yantian Port.

Global Times