The 435 metric tons of cargo is unloaded at Dongping Port in Tai'an. [Photo/Tai'an Daily]

A shipment of heavy cargo from the Port of Antwerp in Belgium recently arrived at the Laohu operation area in the Dongping Port of Tai'an Port in Tai'an, where it was unloaded by heavy lifting equipment.

The shipment included two large pool reactors and two high-pressure stripping towers. These massive items measure up to 32.33 meters in length and 5.09 meters in height, and weigh 435 metric tons, making them the heaviest single piece of cargo ever handled at an inland port in Shandong province. This marks a significant breakthrough in Tai'an's integrated sea-river-land transportation.

The equipment, crucial for urea production, spent 105 days on boats before arriving at Tai'an Port. During the journey, the ship locks along the Shandong section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal implemented special measures based on the cargo's characteristics, deploying additional personnel to enhance on-site coordination and ensure the smooth northward passage of these massive items.

Since its establishment, Tai'an Port has handled over 130 pieces of heavy cargo, with a total weight of approximately 20,000 metric tons. This includes ultra-high voltage transformers and gasifiers.

In recent years, Tai'an has implemented various measures to ensure the smooth transport of heavy cargo. These efforts have promoted the development of the city's modern logistics service industry and improved logistical efficiency.

Tai'an is now promoting port and shipping development, creating a "golden waterway" that allows ships with over 1,000 metric tons capacity to navigate the Grand Canal directly to the Yangtze River Delta port cluster, thereby accelerating the growth of the local port and shipping logistics economy.