| |
|
| Historical Background | | | 2005-03-25 14:45:49 | Ningbo Port is a venerable port with more than 1200-year history. Since the implementation of the reform and opening policy, especially through the development in the ninth and tenth five-year plan periods, the venerable port of one thousand year history is now as a great port with cargo throughput of 100 million tons tending toward the modern times and embracing the world with great strides from ancient times.
 According to history record, Ningbo Port originated in ancient Hemudu. In 752 (11th year of the Emperor Tang Xuanzong's reign in Tang Dynasty), three ships with Japan's embassy were berthed and disembarked in Ningbo, which is the symbol of formal operation of Ningbo Port. In the course of long years, the port of Ningbo experienced and suffered all hardships and tribulations. In 1949, the whole port's throughput was only 40 thousand tons. With the founding of People's Republic of China, Ningbo Port also gained a new life and its development went flourishing.
In 1973, according to the gist of Premier Zhou Enlai's instruction which was to change the outlook of the port in three years, the construction of Zhenhai Harbour Area, as a part of the Port of Ningbo, was started, which made the venerable Ningbo Port experience its first historic breakthrough to turn from a river port to an estuary port. On January 10,1979, the first steel pile of the principal part of the 100,000 tonnage import iron ore transhipment terminal project in Beilun was driven into the sea floor. This project, which was to support the construction of Baoshan Steel Works in Shanghai, was a prelude to the development and construction of Beilun Harbour Area. Thus the ancient Port of Ningbo was enabled to go across of the boundary of The Yongjiang River and realize the second historic breakthrough to turn from an estuary port to a seaport.
During the period after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the Port of Ningbo experienced the most rapid development. In 1978, Ningbo Port had only 11 berths of 500-3,000 tonnage with annual throughput of 970,000 tons and annual cargo handling capacity of 2.14 million tons. While at present, the whole port has 184 berths of all kinds, including 135 working berths of 500 tonnages (35 berths of 10,000 tonnages, and 22 berths ranging from 50,000-250,000 tonnage). The ratified handling capacity of the whole port is 101.78 million tons. In 2002, the port's throughput was 153 million tons of cargoes and 1.859 million TEU, increasing by 19.8% and 53.3% respectively as compared with those of the corresponding period of the previous year. The throughput has ranked the second for successive three years and the increase rate of containers ranked the first for successive four years among the main ports of China's mainland. It is the one of the ports that has achieved most rapid growth among the main coastal ports of China's mainland.
The port of Ningbo enjoys advantaged natural conditions. The water depth of the approach channel is in general 30-100 meters enough for the entry of 200,000-300,000 tonnage gigantic ships. Explorative deepwater coastline reaches 120 kilometres, which means bright prospects for future construction and development. Ningbo Port is well situated at the strategic T-shaped intersection of China's coastal shipping line and the golden waterway of The Yangtze River, where a convenient transportation net radiates. Beilun Harbour Area is naturally sheltered by Zhoushan Archipelagos in the north. There're calm seas and gentle breezes in the harbour area. Building a jetty here requires less investment yet promises more benefits. Besides, the flat and vast dockland area behind the deepwater coastline is exceptionally advantageous for development of port stockpiling, warehousing and littoral industries.
In 1989, Beilun Harbour Area, as a part of Ningbo Port was identified by the country as one of the four international deepwater transhipment ports in China's mainland given priority in development and construction.
Looking into the future, people on the team of Ningbo Port are resolved to take Deng Xiaoping theory and the significant thinking of "Three Representatives" as the guidance, carry out in depth the gist of the 16th session of the Party, adhere to the development strategy of "Prospering the city based on port and promoting the port based on the city", construct five large transhipment bases for international container, import iron ore, crude oil & product oil, coal storage and liquid chemicals storage and build up a modern international great harbour. In order to speed up the construction of deepwater hub port and main line port for international container to meet the needs for developing international trade and ocean-going container transport, several super large international container terminals are planned to be constructed in Ningbo Port. By 2005, the handling capacity of the whole port will reach above 4 million TEU. In the meanwhile, the Port will adopt the advanced technology of "Logistics Centre" from abroad, develop the comprehensive logistics of Ningbo Port by following the international practice and promote the prosperity and development of the port.
|
|
|
