Chinese Ports Choke Over 'Zero Tolerance' COVID-19 Policy
Several Chinese ports are facing congestion as vessels due to call at Ningbo are being diverted and cargo processing is slowed partly due to stricter disinfection measures under China's "zero-tolerance" coronavirus policy.On Tuesday, more than 50 container vessels were queuing at Ningbo port, China's second largest marine center, Refinitiv data showed, up from 28 on Aug. 10 when a COVID-19 case was reported at one of its terminals.Leading international shipping groups have warned their clients of delays and route adjustments.
China Throwing Money at the Waterways
China's Ministry of Transportation reports that the country spent US$2.3 billion on the waterways during the period January to April 2013. This investment by the government shows an increase of 21.2 per cent over the same period in 2012. River transportation enjoys lower shipping rates, larger shipment volume and less energy consumption, although China's river transportation development has long been lagging behind other means of transportation. According to a Xinhua report, with support from the state government, China's river traffic has come onto a development fast track since 2011. In 2011 and 2012, China invested CNY85.28 billion on river traffic, which grew at an average rate of 16.6 per cent per year.
ASA Confers With Chinese Colleagues
The American Salvage Association (ASA) met last week with eight representatives from the Bureau of Salvage and Rescue, China Ministry of Transportation, as well as other related groups from China, to exchange information about how the ASA represents its professional salvage company members in the United States, and how China manages its salvage and transportation program. Leading the delegation was Mr. Wang Zhenliang, Deputy Executive Director of the Bureau of Salvage and Rescue, China Ministry of Transportation. Ms. Diana Zhang, the delegation’s program director, served as interpreter for the meeting. Captain Jim Wilkins, USN, U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage, addressed salvage recovery efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast region.
