First water service station opens in Shanghai

Shanghai's first comprehensive water service station began operating in Xuanqiao town in Pudong New Area on Oct 18 to support the area's shipping and transportation system.

Located near the Dazhi River, the Xuanqiao service station is a key stop for container traffic between the Lin-gang Special Area and inland cities of the Yangtze River Delta region.

The station was first built in 2012 as part of the area's water network, and underwent three years of renovations by Shanghai Chengtou Group starting in 2017.

"The launch of the Xuanqiao project is a new milestone for Shanghai's shipping industry, as it drives high-quality development in the delta region," said Hu Xin, chief engineer of Shanghai Chengtou Group.

In addition to traditional fuel, the new port service station will also provide electricity to vessels. Shore-connected electricity allows vessels to shut down their onboard power generation units while berthed, helping reduce emissions and noise.

China has been promoting the use of shore power in recent years.

According to a plan announced in 2017, more than half of specialized berths at major ports — including those for container ships, cruise ships, and large passenger transport and dry bulk cargo vessels — will have the ability to provide shore power by 2020.

Shore power has already been applied at over 3,000 berths nationwide, including nearly all service stations along the Grand Canal of China.