In 2024, the cargo throughput of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, located in Zhejiang Province, East China, exceeded 1.37 billion tons, securing its position as the global leader for the 16th consecutive year, according to the port administration.

The port handled 39.3 million TEUs, an 11% year-on-year increase, marking the highest growth rate in nearly seven years.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port operates over 300 container routes, more than 250 of which are international, connecting over 600 ports in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.

In 2024, the port also expanded its multimodal sea-rail transportation services, covering 67 administrative regions across China and processing over 1.8 million TEUs.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port continues to strengthen its position as a key hub for global trade and logistics.

China plans to establish a national center for technological innovation on the safety and reliability of waterborne transportation equipment in a key port city in east China's Zhejiang province.

The initiative aims to promote the high-quality development of the waterborne transportation equipment industry, which in turn will contribute to the development of the country's transportation sector, China's Keji zhibao /Science and Technology Daily/ reported on Monday.

The Ningbo city government and the Ningbo High-Tech Industrial Zone Management Committee signed a cooperation agreement with the China Ship Classification Society (CCS) to jointly establish the center, which will become an innovation platform combining science, technology and practical application.

According to a CCS spokesperson, the cooperation aims to promote the formation of a high-tech equipment industry cluster, enhance the sustainability and security of China's waterborne equipment supply chain, and provide technical support for the development of Ningbo as a center for developing the maritime industry and ensuring the high-quality growth of its manufacturing sector.

Under the agreement, the three parties will jointly promote basic technological research, application of scientific achievements and training of highly qualified professionals in the water transportation equipment industry.

The cooperation will address innovative needs in areas such as deep-sea and polar exploration, smart shipping, environmentally friendly shipping, high-tech ships, marine engineering equipment and new materials for shipbuilding and ship repair.

The agreement will also establish a comprehensive platform for testing and validation of water transportation equipment.

Administered by the PRC Ministry of Transportation, CCS provides international-level technical specifications and standards for ships, offshore facilities, containers and related industrial products, acting as an independent third party for relevant inspections.

One of Yang Ming Marine Transport’s container ships ran aground as it attempted to berth in Taiwan’s Keelung port on the night of 11 December.

The 2013-built, 8,626 TEU YM Unicorn had somehow deviated from its course, running aground in front of a lighthouse just before midnight local time. YM Unicorn, which plies the Transpacific route, had arrived from Kaohsiung and attempted to berth.

Keelung Port Traffic Control Center reported that YM Unicorn deviated from the waterway at the red lighthouse in Dikou when it entered the port. It immediately dispatched three tugs to help the ship leave the area.

However, at 3.21 am local time this morning (12 December), YM Unicorn was confirmed to have been grounded in front of the lighthouse. Other port personnel boarded the ship to assist the pilot in assessing the situation and subsequently, another four tugs were sent to provide further help.

The pilot discovered that the forepeak tank on YM Unicorn was damaged, causing water ingress, and the tugs continued to bring the ship back into the water.

It took nearly 20 minutes to bring YM Unicorn back into the water, enabling the ship to enter the embankment, and it was successfully berthed at Keelung West No. 19 pier at 4.35 am local time. None of the ship’s crewmen was reported to be injured.

The cause of the accident is being investigated and Yang Ming will handle all other related matters pertaining to the repairs, compensation and any shipping delays. YM Unicorn was supposed to have sailed on to Los Angeles after Keelung.

The Karachi Shipyard will build Pakistan’s first major commercial ship after four decades, according to local media.

The 1,100 TEU Container Ship Project, which was on hold for nine months, has been revived by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a hybrid civil-military government body formed in 2023 to facilitate foreign investment in Pakistan’s key economic sectors.

The cargo shipbuilding project will see collaboration between the Pakistan Navy, Karachi shipyard, and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.

China's e-commerce logistics index hit a new 7-year high in November this year, according to a survey released on Sunday by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing and e-commerce giant JD.com.

The index, a measure of logistics operations, stood at 115.5 points last month, up 0.5 points month-on-month, according to the survey.

Although promotions and sales in the context of the country's “11.11” shopping festival, timed to coincide with the country's “Bachelor's Day”, started more than a month ago this year, the e-commerce logistics index for November still managed to reach a new high in the past 7 years, the federation said.

The total business volume sub-index rose 0.4 points month-on-month to 134.1, pointing to an increase in demand in the sector.

Rural e-commerce demand was also strong last month, with the rural business volume sub-index rising 2.3 points to 134.5.

The survey also showed that Chinese logistics enterprises in the e-commerce sector made progress in delivery performance during the “11.11” shopping festival, with all relevant sub-indices showing steady improvement and stable growth.

Logistics is no longer the problematic link limiting consumption within e-commerce. On the contrary, it is now continuously contributing to the development of the country's e-commerce sector through diversified services and efficient operations, the federation said.