The shipping platform

Location: Fuzhou port area is located on the SE coast of China, on the W bank of the Taiwan Straits and includes the shoreline of the Minjiang River, with seven main wharf areas leading 23km upriver, three coastal port areas of Jiang Yin, Song Xia and Luoyuan,135km apart, and port facilities on the island of Pingtan. General overview: There are significant plans by the regional Fujian government for the reorganisation of the port area. The Minjiang River berths of Fuzhou (also known as Foochow) have facilities for both liquid and dry cargoes. The harbour area in the river is extensive and spans an area of 82,130,000m² with a total berthing length exceeding 7,000m. There are seven main port districts along the river as follows: Guantou 25°08'.0N 119°33'.5E Tingjiang 25°04'.5N 119°30'.7E Songmen 25°02'.5N 119°30'.1E Qinzhou 26°00'.5N 119°28'.7E Choudong SE bank of Min Jiang between Yingqian (25°58'N 119°28'E) and Gao'an (26°01'N 119°30'E). Mawei 25°59'N 119°27'E Taijang 26°03'.1N 119°20'.5E Mawai is the main port district on the Minjiang River for international shipping and also has a naval dockyard and fishing harbour. The Jian Yin Port area includes Fuzhou International Container Terminal (FICT) which comprises five berths taking vessels up to 50,000DWT. To the NE of this is the new Jian Gyin Guodian Coal Power Plant, supplied by a conveyor jetty stretching over 1.0nm out to sea. Song Xia Port has two main terminal areas: Yuanhong Terminal (aka Song Xia Gang) and Niutou Wan (aka Song Xia Wharf Operation Area), approx 5nm NNE. These wharves mainly deal with iron ore from Australia, coal, domestic grains, feed, wheat, edible oils and minerals. Luoyuan Bay (Luoyuan Wan) is a large, enclosed bay, 7.5nm across, accommodating several terminal areas including Jitou to the NW of the Bay, Shiqi and Bili to the NE and Kemen on the S shore. The Bay mainly deals with general cargo, coal, grain, steel, fertilisers, sand, and containers. Several new factory areas have been completed, are undergoing construction or are in planning stages resulting in an increase of vessel traffic. Pingtan Island, to the E, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with tourism as its main economic activity. Cruise liners are an important source of income. At the end of 2010 a bridge was opened over the Haitan Strait linked to the mainland but several port development projects are still planned. Traffic figures: Approx 88,478,200t of cargo, 45,872 passengers and 1,011,000TEU handled annually. Songxia Xia Port: In 2008, 43 vessels called, totalling 1,287,298DWT. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: Fuzhou: Max draught 9.5m FW, LOA 180m, no beam restriction. Vessels with excess LOA can be accepted subject to Port Authority approval. Fuqing: Max draught 11.0m, LOA 230m, 50,000DWT. Song Xia: Max draught 10.8m, LOA 190m and beam 28m. Song Xia (Port Niutou Wan Terminal): Iron Ore, 100,000DWT. Jiang Yin: Max draught 14.0m, LOA 375m, 50,000DWT.